“Yummy. You can put those bad boys right there.” Anneli points at the small round table next to the kitchen.
“Sure thing.” He kisses her on the cheek. “Hi, Cin, it’s nice to see you again.”
“Yeah, it’s been awhile.”
“I’ll be right back,” Anneli says, closing the door. “I have to use the bathroom.”
Adrian and I stare at each other.
“Cat got your tongue?” he jokes.
“Oh, I’m sorry. How have you been?”
“Good, hanging in there. You?”
“The same.” There’s an awkward pause. “I really should get going. My mom had surgery a few months ago. She’s recovering nicely, but I don’t want to leave her with Sebastian too long. He can be a handful.”
“Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Use that as an excuse to hightail it out of here.”
“I’m—”
“Don’t lie.”
“I just don’t think it’s a good idea for me to stay.”
“I came here to see you. Christian mentioned you’d be here, so I invited myself. How pathetic is that?”
“Adrian—”
“We had a good thing going, didn’t we?” He caresses my jaw. “What went wrong?”
“I’m with Art now.”
“Being with someone didn’t stop you before.”
“I was young and dumb. Don’t throw that in my face.”
“I’m sorry. I’m still pissed about the whole situation. Why did you choose him over me? I’m good for you, Cin. It’s not too late for us.”
“There was no chance for us once he came back into my life.”
He pulls me close to him and molds his lips to mine.
I break away. “Adrian, stop.”
“I still want you, Cin.”
“What’s going on?” Anneli asks.
“I have to go. I’ll call you when I get home, okay?” I leave the apartment.
Today’s events have left me drained. I turn off the ignition and exit my car, determined to get inside, take a hot bath, and go to sleep. The headlights of the car parked behind mine flick on. I hold my hand up to shield my eyes. A man steps out of the vehicle, but due to the blinding light, I can only make out his silhouette.
“What the fuck, asshole?”
