Once he left, I fell back onto my bed with a dreamy sigh. When Simon texted that he was coming to New Haven, I had no idea that the evening would end with an invite to Eden and Barron's engagement party. He'd never introduced me to his family before, so I was beside myself with excitement. I mean, not only was he introducing me, but it was also at a pretty important family event. That had to mean something, right?
A vibrating buzz had me lifting my head. Realizing Simon's phone was going off on my nightstand, I dropped my head back down. I knew I had to get a wriggle on to prepare Simon's promised toast and coffee, but I was too exhausted to move. Exhausted but happy.
As I replayed last night's activities, I grimaced when I recalled the only damper of the night.
Lissa.
She texted me yesterday evening wanting to hang out, and in my excitement, I stupidly gushed about Simon inviting me tohis cousin's engagement party. Lissa's one-sided rivalry with Eden, Barron's fiance, was not at the forefront of my mind.
She’d been in a rage, bombarding me with texts demanding updates on my night. I felt rude relaying to her every single detail, right down to the decor, but then Simon left me alone for most of the night, and none of his family members seemed keen to entertain me, so I was left to my own devices. Unfortunately, that meant keeping a very angry best friend at bay.
I was disappointed in her behavior but also wasn’t surprised. I didn’t know what I expected. Maybe for Lissa to put aside this unwarranted disdain for Eden foronenight and be happy that the man I was besotted with was finally bringing me around his family? Instead, she somehow managed to make it all about her. I loved Lissa, but she could be a lot of work.
Buzz. Buzz.
I sat up, annoyed. Whoever was trying to get a hold of Simon was relentless. It could be someone from his family or work. Work always kept him busy. I picked up the phone, intending to swing by the bathroom to pass the device over, just in case it was an emergency. His phone went off again in my hand, and I glanced down at the screen.
I did a double-take when I saw the number before I froze in shock.
"What?" I whispered, confused at what I was seeing. There was no name attached to the message, only a number. A number that had already sent him six messages.
A number I recognized.
Simon had set his texts up so only the name or number showed, not the details of the message. But there was no need for Simon to have her number. Definitely no reason for her to be texting him. Unless...
A trickle of unease slid down my neck. It was the same feeling I had when I’d tried calling Jason at his college, only for somegiggly sorority girl to pick up. It was the same feeling I got when I came across Simon and Sofia in a dark corner last night, their expressions wide and innocent.
Trusting my instinct, I grabbed my phone with a shaky hand and brought up my best friend's name on my contact list. A quick look to compare her information had me sucking in a sharp, pained breath.
With my heart in my throat, I quickly thumbed in Simon's pin. I'd seen him enter it numerous times but never felt the urge to snoop. Until now.
The blood drained from my face as I read Lissa's messages. Messages that seemed to go on and on.
And not only messages.
I almost threw up when I came across her double D paid-by-Daddy boob job pics. There were a ton of them mixed in between the explicit texts. All of these went backmonths. Tears blurred my vision as I thumbed through, continuing to skim-read between bouts of nausea. It didn't matter that most of them came from Lissa or that Simon hadn't responded to nearly all of them. I needed to know the inception of their contact, the reason it all started.
And there they were.
The messages that confirmed my worst fears. As if the sexts and nude mirror selfies weren't enough. I needed irrefutable proof. I had enough experience being gaslit by fuck boys to know how to play their game.
All the times Lissa pretended to sympathize with me as I bemoaned my off-on relationship with Simon. The bullshit advice she fed me on how to keep him interested. The excitement she faked when I gushed about how I thought things were turning a corner for Simon and me.
That fucking lying, deceiving bitch.
I heard the shower turn off, and my murderous rage turned toward the second guilty party.
That fucking lying, deceiving bastard.
A red haze came over me before I let out a loud shriek that tore through the apartment. I stormed to the bathroom and threw Simon's phone against the closed door with a satisfying thunk.
"Arrgghh! Get out of there, you fucking asshole!" I banged my hands against the door until it suddenly opened, and I fell forward. I slapped Simon's traitorous hands away when he bent to help me up.
"Don't touch me, you lying, cheating bastard!" Hot, angry tears streaked down my face as I lifted my hand and connected my palm with his cheek.
"Ooof!" he grunted in surprise.
Uncaring whether I hurt him or not, I continued to lash out. My fists pounded against his chest, some connecting, most—unfortunately—dodged by him.
