I shake my head no.
“Fine, but you owe me drinks when you get back.” She growls.
I cross my fingers over my heart. “Promise.”
“And promise to get some from that sexy as hell boss of yours while you’re gone.”
She leaves me, mouth wide open. I don’t find Derrick sexy at all but Trinity is an equal opportunity admirer. While I have my type, she spreads the love and her legs sometimes, for anyone who piques her interest.
“Not happening, Trin!” I yell after her, laughing.
She hollers back, “Then give him my number!”
***
A few days later I am walking into my new place. Slipping my shoes off feels like heaven right now. Today was one of the longest days I have had in a really long time and all I want is a bath. And Casen. For some reason, he has been on my mind all day, probably because there were two fire trucks that pulled up to the building across the street this afternoon. It brought back memories of him helping me up into his truck and almost taking it too far right there before Reece interrupted us. That’s when I should have known I was going to fall for him all over again. My body just reacted to him like it was meant to be in his arms all along. It felt fated. It had all along. I just ignored the signals. I crave to reach out to him more than ever. I just don’t know what to say. How many times can I apologize? How many times can I beg him to let me explain? How many times can I beg for his forgiveness? I should let go, he probably has. You can only be ignored so many times before you just give up but I don’t want to give up. I’ve tried to stop loving him. It’s just not possible right now.
Trinity is working late tonight so I slide the chain and latch the deadbolt before heading to my room and ridding myself of the day’s laundry. I used to dress up for work all the time but with my new job, I am on my feet all day. My clothes are much different now. Where I used to wear short skirts and low cut blouses, I now wear black dress pants and silk tops. A cute three-quarter sleeve dress that hits just above my knees adorned with some flats or maybe a pencil skirt and suit jacket. I love what I am doing now. Corporate planning is a lot of fun for me. Just seeing my vision come together is so satisfying. I’m just sad that as my career was taking off and I decided to start living my life in a way my parents could be proud, that my personal life has taken a toll.
I wrap a towel around me and start to run a warm bath, throwing in some lavender bath salts. I place my iPod on the speaker, put on my calming playlist, and walk to the kitchen to grab a captain and Coke. Wine just doesn’t seem like enough tonight.
My feet hit the hallway just as a hard knock comes at the door. I secure my towel tighter around me and set my drink on the dining room table. I quietly tiptoe toward the door and look through the peephole. A man is standing there, but he is facing the other direction.
“Who is it?” I ask, and he turns at the sound of my voice.
“It’s me,” he responds. “Reece.”
I unlatch the security of the door and open it. His eyes take me in as he steps inside. “Trinity isn’t here,” I tell him, holding the door open, waiting for him to leave. You would think he would have texted her first to find out that she isn’t here.
He doesn’t make a move, his eyes roaming over my towel clad body. Why did I let him in when I’m looking like this? He swallows before asking, “When will she be back?”
I shrug, looking back at the wall clock. “I don’t know. Ten o’clock or so.” I widen the door. “I’ll tell her you stopped by, but I was just about to…shit!”
I run as fast as I can through my bedroom, into my bathroom, to find water starting to splash onto the floor. I turn the faucet off and grab some nearby towels, hoping to soak it up all up before it leaks down into the downstairs condo.
Just what I would need. Just over a week here and I’m already trying to cause water damage. I had forgotten about Reece until his shadow blocked out the light. It startles me and I fall back onto my ass, still in just my towel. “Dammit, Reece. You scared me.”
He doesn’t move. Doesn’t try to help me. No offering of his hand to pull me up. His dark green eyes just stare down at me. My skin prickles all over my body in warning and feel as though my fight or flight instinct is about to kick in. Reece has always given me a creepy vibe but I thought after our talk at the bar, the one where he apologized and felt bad for accidentally releasing that tape, I was hoping things would get better. The way I’m feeling now, the way he is staring at me makes me uncomfortable.
“You need to leave.” I croak, my voice almost a whisper. “Now.”
He’s stoic like he couldn’t move his feet if he wanted to, and I realize this is the first time Reece and I have ever been alone in the same place. Hell, same room.
“Why did you say yes to Ian?” he asks, the question unnerving me.
“What?” I finally stand up. “You really need to go.”
He grabs my arm tightly. “Why Ian? If you loved Casen back then, why Ian? Why not me?”
I furrow my brows and then rip my arm from his grasp. “Because Ian didn’t creep me the fuck out like you did. It’s time to go.”
He nods, walking back through the apartment in his wet shoes, me closely behind him. He turns the knob, opening the door, and looks back at me. “Tell Trinity to call me.”
I let him walk out before hardening my stare. “Tell her yourself, Reece!” and I slam the door.
My heart is racing.
As I clean up the rest of the bath water off the floor, while also draining some of the excess in the tub, I can’t shake the sickening feeling. Why did he ask me that? I don’t understand. I recall him asking something along those lines in high school but never felt like I needed to go into protection mode. That is the first time I have been scared of Reece. Yes, he started the bet and he tried to win it, but I never got the impression I should be fearful of him. I spent the last ten years taking control of my life and not allowing others to be superior to me. That just felt very wrong.
I make sure the door is yet again locked, grab my drink, and slip off my robe. I slink down into the warm water. So much for relaxing after a long ass Monday.
