“Well?” she demanded, and I realized that I hadn’t said anything yet. One, because I had no idea what she was talking about. And two, because I was trying not to fly off the handle when I understood she was telling me that Tiffany was texting her.That crazy bitch.
“Bonnie…I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I informed her. I saw the hesitation on her face before she shook it away, shoved her phone in my face, and showed me a picture. It was me, and it was from the most recent trip.But when the fuck?It took me a minute to realize that Tiffany must have snapped one of me opening the door when she came knocking.How did I not notice?Oh, yeah, it’s because I was losing my mind over not being able to get a hold of Bonnie.
At first glance, the picture looked bad. I was in pajamas and cut out, my hair looked messed up, but it was only because I waspacing and freaking out over the girl standing in front of me. But with a closer look, I could see the irritation written all over my face.
“Leave, Elijah. This is over.” She turned to go, and I pulled her to me so her back was facing my front. “Bonnie, look at the picture, and I mean reallylook at it. You see the way I’m frowning. You—you seemy unhappiness. You know me. Tell me you see it.”
I felt her shake and the way her eyes looked back down at her phone. Her sniffle almost killed me as she went back inside and slammed the door in my face, and I heard her engagebothlocks behind her.
A plan to get my girl back was coming together, and unfortunately, that meant I had to leave for a bit. I knocked on the door. I knew she was still there because I could see her shadow at the base of it.
“Bonnie…I’m leaving, but I’m coming back. Do you hear me? You’ll see why when I get back. Okay?”
She didn’t answer. I didn’t expect her to, but I did see that her shadow didn’t move from where she was standing, where she could hear me. I prayed that it meant she was listening to me, and that maybe, I still had a shot.
Chapter Twelve
Elijah
I really hated that I knew where Tiffany lived. In my defense, I only knew because she bragged to anyone who would listen. Some aunt of hers had been loaded and passed away, gifting her the apartment in her will.
I gritted my teeth as I finally got to the front of her building. Even the thought of being that close to her made me want to vomit all over my shoes. But I knew it was the only way I could prove to Bonnie without a shadow of a doubt that nothing—and I meannothing—was going on between Tiffany and me.
I made it into the first set of doors easily enough, but then I had to find her in the building’s directory and ring until she answered. I couldn’t stop myself from pressing the call button until she picked up.
“Christ. Hello?” Tiffany finally answered.
“Tiff, it’s Elijah.” I tried to keep the disdain from my voice, and it almost came out like a squeak. I rolled my eyes at myself.
“Elijah? What the fuck is going on? Here, let me buzz you up!” She sounded all too eager to get me into her apartment. I gagged, but breathed a sigh of relief at being buzzed in, knowing that my plan was going according to plan so far. I made my way to the elevator and punched the button that would lead me to her place. 403. Not willing to take any chances, I pushed the record feature on my phone.No way can I let her try to spin this.
Finally, I made it to her floor, trying to school my features and appear friendly. I was going to insist she come back to my place—well, Ellie’s—where I would call her out on all her lies in front of Bonnie. I started to knock on her door, and it swung open halfway through the first knock. I had to remind myself not to frown.
“Tiff.”
“Elijah! What is going on? Justin sent us a screenshot of what you said to him! How could you say that?” she asked.
I had anticipated her questions, and told her exactly what she wanted to hear. “Listen, I had some time to cool down. I realized that you all were right. Bonnie leaving me was the best thing that could have happened. I figured I’d apologize to you first.” I did my best to bat my eyes at her, but I was pretty sure it just came out like I was blinking rapidly. Either way, she seemed to buy it.
“Oh, Elijah! I knew you would come to your senses.” She bit her lip as she looked at me in an obvious attempt at being sexy, and I did my best to make my grimace look like a smile. “Hey, let’s go to my place. I have something for you.”
“Oh! A present?” She looked at me with stars in her eyes.
“Yeah. It’s a surprise,” I informed her as she clapped her hands together.
“Let me grab my jacket!”
I pulled out my phone, making sure I still had the recording on, and messaged Ellie, even though I knew she was picking out my funeral plot—her parting words, not mine. I needed to make sure I gave Tiffany absolutely no reason to doubt me, so I had run my idea past Ellie first. I told her I’d be there soon, to leave the door unlocked, and I was coming with proof I wasn’t a cheating asshole.
“Let’s go. The car is waiting.”
“My, my, aren’t you in a rush?”
Yes. Yes, I am.
I barely spoke to her as we made the fifteen-minute drive to Ellie’s apartment. Tiffany just kept prattling on, not at all realizing that I hadn’t spoken a single word to her the last half of the ride. I kept my eyes on the passing streets, just waiting for Ellie’s to come into view. Once we pulled up, I all but sprinted out, not bothering to wait or open Tiffany’s door.
“Uh…this is where you live?” She looked around in obvious distaste. Not wanting to waste any more time, I turned my back on her and tried not to yell at her for walking sodamnslow. I tapped my foot as I held the door open, hoping she would get the hint to go faster.
