The heads at the table moved between Morgan and me like one would at a tennis match.
“Follow me!” I gritted out through my teeth as I stalked back to my office.
He stormed through the door I held open for him and sat in the chair opposite mine by the desk. I took a deep breath, straightened up my shoulders and walked to my chair, sitting down, and staring at him.
“I want more, Andie. I want you back, but friends with benefits isn’t enough for me,” he demanded. He looked up at me, his eyes glassy.
“We’re over, Morgan. You ended things. You know I don’t want a relationship. I’ve told you this from the start. I’m just not ready for that. We need to go back to just friends.”
“You did, but I was hoping that would have changed. We were together for months. Things were good. You know I have feelings for you.” His voice had turned softer.
“Yeah, you showed me how much you care for me by allowing a girl to be all over you on the dancefloor in front of my face!” I spat, slamming my hands down on my desk.
“Look.” He met my eyes, they were tear-filled and mirrored how I was feeling. “I’m sorry about that, it was supposed to just be a dance, and she did get handsy, but I stopped it. Andie, do you care about me?”
I couldn’t answer him. I did have feelings for him, how could I not? He was perfect, but what was the point? I didn’t, no couldn’t, have a relationship. My divorce wasn’t final, and I was sick of it all.
“Morg…I…” I broke off and swallowed hard.
“I guess I’ll see you around.” His voice broke he moved to the door and just stood there for a few moments, his one hand on the door handle.
“Please don’t leave like this, Morgan.” My heart was breaking, my body shook.
“I have to, don’t you see? This is killing me. I’m not happy anymore.”
“What? So, you’re just going to walk away altogether, not even friends?” Morgan nodded. “You’re a fucking asshole. You agreed, sex, nothing more. Now you’re cutting all ties and walking?”
“Just like you, huh, Andie. But you don’t walk away, you fucking run. For months we’ve been having sex, spending time with each other, texting non-stop. When I wasn’t working or with Charlie, I was with you. You made me feel like you had feelings for me, but it was all just a fuck for you, wasn’t it?”
I was at a loss for words. He was hurting and I wanted to make it better for him, I just couldn’t give him what he wanted.
“If you don’t want a relationship then I will find someone who does.”
“You know what? Go fucking do it then. Plenty of girls down on the dancefloor!” The anger took over when I thought of him with someone else.
The pain in his eyes was too much to bear, so I swung my seat around to face the back of the office. The door slammed, I counted to ten and spun back around. Tears filled my eyes, and I was more hurt than I cared to admit. I gave myself five minutes to feel before I shook it off; I had work to do.
I got up on shaky legs and made another drink, downing it in one, feeling the warmth of it fill my stomach. I could do this. I just needed to get through the next couple of hours then I could break down when I got home.
I made my way down to the bar area to check in. All was going well, the club was packed again and things, business wise, were great. I turned to watch my patrons drinking, dancing, and flirting when my eye caught sight of a familiar figure to my left.
Morgan was at the end of the bar with a different girl holding onto his arm. He smiled at her and laughed at something she said in his ear. Then, she kissed him and started to pull him to the back of the club where the toilets were. I couldn’t watch any longer as my whole world crumbled around me.
I knew it was my fault; I’d pushed him away consistently since we had started sleeping together. Never giving myself to him completely, but always just giving him enough to keep him interested until he wasn’t anymore. He deserved better, I knew that, but I was selfish enough to keep him dangling because he was good for me. That way worked for me.
“Aria?” I called out to the bartender.
“Yes, boss?”
“Top shelf, please. Make it a double.” She nodded and got to work making me my drink whilst I tried to calm my breaking heart and jealousy. I couldn’t stop thinking of him back therewith that girl, fucking her in my club. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got.
I downed the drink Aria placed in front of me. “Another, please.” She poured me another, which I also downed. “Another.”
“Boss, are you okay?” She looked worried.
“Yep, everything is peachy. Just leave the bottle.” The words sounded right, but the tone wasn’t.
Aria eyed me up and took the bottle with her. I stared at the empty space where he sat with another girl and downed my third drink. I turned and saw Aria on the phone, probably calling Lauren or Jonathan, but I was past caring. I waved to her and pointed to my empty glass. She smiled, put the phone down and poured me another. I downed that one too.
