Jake Barnes

"Oh, Jake," Brett said, "we could have had such a damned good time together."

Ahead was a mounted policeman in khaki directing traffic. He raised his baton. The car slowed suddenly pressing Brett against me.

"Yes," I said. "Isn't it pretty to think so?"

Does she really think that I’m that easy? That was the old Jake. This new Jake is nowhere near that naive. She’s burned me so many times before. What would make me think that this time was any different. I’m just the rebound guy to her, the side piece. I still love her, but if she thinks that I will come running into her arms whenever she’s lonely, then she’s got another thing coming. If my impotency was a problem before, why isn’t it a problem right now. Yes, Brett “we could have had such a damned good time together”, the keywords being: could have. You pushed me away whenever I tried to love you, so you don’t get to summon me and try and taunt me with what I was missing. You only see me as a lap dog to answer at your every beck and call whenever you’re down. Well I’m done. I still love you, but for now, I’m done.