He laughs quietly, brushing his thumb along my jaw. “Guess I’ll have to continue to back it up, then.”
Curling closer against his chest, I let my eyes drift shut, deciding silence is safer than more honesty right now.
I let myself breathe—no guilt, no second-guessing. Just surprising peacefulness, and one very inconvenient feeling I’m not ready to name.
? ? ?
I walk through the front door with my bra dangling from one hand and my heels clutched in the other, I catch my Uber driver pulling away before I even manage to slam the doorshut behind me. It’s almost noon, but my body swears it’s barely nine. My head’s still pounding from last night, each throb a petty little reminder that I mixed drinks like I was on a mission to forget my name.
Dragging my feet down the hallway, I pause outside Arina’s door. It’s shut, and for a second, I think about knocking—then remember how heavy I feel and immediately decide against it. My body’s begging for my bed, not small talk.
Pushing into my room, I kick the door closed with my heel and let everything fall where it wants. My shirt, my shorts, my heels—they drop in a messy trail behind me. I crawl onto my bed and flop onto my back, the smell of liquor, perfume, and sex still clinging to my skin.
The peace and quiet doesn’t even last a full minute before my door creaks open, and Arina’s voice slices through the silence. “Hey bitch, where the fuck haveyoubeen?”
I groan as I roll over, yanking the blanket halfway up my chest. “Girl, I left with that guy—the guy’s friend you walked up to. His name’s Levy.”
Arina steps into the doorway, arms folded tight, giving me that classic look. Judgment and concern fighting for first place. “Well, I hope you had fun, ‘cause Daniel was walking around looking like somebody’s mad-ass daddy. I didn’t say nothing, but bitch—he looked pissed. But at least he didn’t make a scene.”
I can’t help but laugh, my voice muffled against the blanket. “Girl, I saw him when I was leaving with Levy. You know I had to make himfeelsomethingbefore I dipped. Otherwise, who knows how many more guilt-trip texts and missed calls I’d have right now. Speaking of, I gotta call him later and smooth things over. Because that little stunt he pulled last night in the bathroom—was not it.”
Arina raises a brow, unimpressed. “And Levy?”
I grin against the pillow, eyes half-closed. “Levy’s fine as hell. I think I might actually give him a try. What can I say, the man’s got something I like.”
She snorts, shaking her head as her attitude softens into a lazy smile. “Whatever, bitch. You sound like me with all these men. Get some rest—you look like you’ve been up all night.”
“And morning,” I correct her, “and it’s because I have,” I mumble, already halfway asleep.
Arina chuckles on her way out, pulling the door shut behind her with a soft click.
The room dims, the peacefulness settling around me like a weighted blanket. I let out a long breath, eyes fluttering shut before I can think twice about Levy, Daniel, or any of the confusion I probably just started.
Chapter Twenty One
Closure
W
aking up, my body aches in the best possible way, the memories drifting back in warm, dizzy pieces. A slow smile creeps across my face… but it disappears the second Daniel pops into my mind.
I picture him standing there the other night, watching me leave with Levy like I don’t care about him. I do but not that much. I’ve told him countless times that we can’t be together, but he won’t take no for an answer.
I still can’t believe I slept through the entire day yesterday—all I remember is stumbling in from Levy’s place and Arina laying into me before I crashed.
I’ll call him today and smooth things over. Because if I don’t—and I run into him at another party, acting all jealous and wounded again—I’m not letting him guilt-trip me into fucking me in a bathroom. Not my finest hour.
And who knows… maybe he’ll even throw in a goodbye round for old times’ sake. The poor guy deserves closure—or at least a distraction before I break his heart.
I drag myself into the shower and scrub like I’m trying to wash off regret—twice. As much as I admire Levy’s scent, I want to smell like me again. Not last night. Not anyone else. Just me.
Wrapped in a towel, I check my phone again. Still nothing from Levy.
Maybe he’s busy. Maybe he actually has a job—how responsible of him. I keep forgetting I’m jobless and think everyone else’s schedule is as open as mine. Whatever.
Looking at my list of missed calls, I stare at Daniel’s name. He blew up my phone all day yesterday, and now there are at least five more missed calls, two missed FaceTimes, and six unopened texts waiting for me. My thumb hovers over the screen before I finally exhale and press call.
“Hello?” His voice comes through sharp, tight with irritation. He doesn’t even give me a chance to say anything first.“Well, nice of you to remember I exist,” he continues, his words clipped. “You couldn’t answer a single text? Not one call Jainey?”
