? ? ?
Arina and I drive home with the windows cracked, morning air whipping through as we giggle like schoolgirls. Every stoplight has us replaying pieces of the night. Welaugh about the dancers, and the chaos that already feels like a blur.
But as the laughter fades, Levy slips back into my head, souring the sweetness. No call. No text. But thankfully, I don’t really care. Because if I really thought I still belonged to him, last night proved how wrong I was.
Saint and Cairo showed me what it means to really be wanted—fully and unapologetically. To be touched like I’m the only thing that really matters.
Not the fake shit Levy tried to give me.
Half-truths.
Half-love.
Half-effort. And I’m done starving for scraps when I finally know what it feels like to be devoured. Levy is the past and last night burned that bridge to ash.
And as Arina’s laughter spills through the car, a dangerous calm settles in my stomach. One truth that stands out loud and clear—I don’t want him anymore.
Chapter Thirty Seven
No Tears
B
ack at home, Arina and I waste no time. Music drifts through the living room as we weave between our rooms, catching glimpses of each other only long enough to twirl and model. Those sexy-ass brothers left a spark in us—and it’s obvious it’s still burning.
I’m halfway into my heels when I hear a familiar click that steals the air from the room. A slow, aching creak follows as the front door drifts open.
My smile dies mid-rise.
Arina’s gaze snaps to mine, her playfulness gone, eyes sharp with warning and confusion.
Levy steps inside, the morning light slicing across his face. His eyes drag over the room—me dressed to leave, the shimmer in my curls, the glowstill painted on my skin. His stare hooks into me, certain, as if he can taste last night in the air around me despite the shower.
If there was ever a moment I didn’t want to face him, it’s now. But here he is—uninvited, standing in our doorway like he still belongs here.
I fold my arms, chin lifting just enough to make it clear. “You lost, Levy? Or you just forget how to knock?”
The second his eyes lock on me, I don’t give him a chance to speak. My sharp voice cuts clean through the tension. “I don’t even know why you’re here—unless it’s to pack the rest of your shit and finally leave.”
His brows jump, jaw clenching as panic rises in his face. “What? Jainey, wait—just listen for one second.”
“No.” I cut him off before he can try to spin another excuse. My lethal voice slicing through his. “We’re done, Levy. Completely done. Three days—you disappeared for three fucking days—and that’s all it took for me to realize I’m done with you. You’re supposed to be my man, not out doing whatever the hell you want.”
He blinks, stunned, the words obviously hitting harder than he expected. “You’re really doing this right now? After everything we’ve been through? Damn, Jainey, I was just with some friends. I told you, it’s not that serious—”
“Not that serious?” I laugh, the sound sharp and humorless. “You vanish without a word, and it’s not that serious? You’ve got some fucking nerve, you know that?”
From the corner of the room, Arina coughs pointedly to remind him he’s not just embarrassing himself in front of me, but he’s got an audience too. He glares past me, jaw ticking, her reaction clearly pissing him off even more. “Man, this is crazy. You always blowing shit up. I’ve been patient withyou, but I didn’t come back home to get yelled at in front of your little cheerleader.”
I take a slow step toward him, arms crossed tight, my glare locked on his. “Patient with me? I’m the once who’s had to endured all your lies and cheating. Maybe you should’ve thought about all this before you wanted to act like a damn ghost. You disappeared—left me here wondering if you were dead—but no, you were just too busy fucking around in Vegas to tell me where you were.”
I laugh, short and bitter. “And let’s not forget how you lied about losing your job—because your baby mama went up there showing her ass. Yeah, I know about that too. You’re a liar, Levy. A manipulative, sorry-ass liar.” My voice shakes, not from weakness but from the fury clawing at my throat. “And now you think you can just walk back in here like nothing happened?”
He doesn’t answer. Just stands there—lips parted, hands twitching at his sides—searching for words he clearly doesn’t have. The disbelief on his face only fueling me more.
“This was the last time,” I say, my voice steady and final. “You don’t get to treat me like this over and over again and think nothing’s ever going to change.”
For once, Levy’s got nothing. His mouth opens like he wants to argue, but nothing comes out. He just stands there, looking at me—searching for softness, for something left to hold on to—but there’s nothing left to find. Finally, with a stiff nod, he turns down the hall.
