There's a voicemail waiting. I debate on listening to it, but before I decide if I want to, a text message pops up.
Malcolm: I did it. It didn’t go well. I could really use you right now.
He really did it. Disbelief and pride swarm through me. I know his parents. They’re complete bigot assholes and only barely tolerate me. The only reason I was ever in their presence was because of Malcolm.
He needs me and I can’t not be there for him.
Me: OMW.
Chapter 27
Bradley
Iletmybackfallagainst the door, not only for support because I feel weak as hell, but from the weight of what I saw.
Malcolm.
Not just his name. But a picture.
And it was of him, in bed, wrapped up in Jefferson’s arms.
The world spins around me. A mixture of sickness and the world crashing down on me. It feels as if someone’s stuck a knife in my heart, turning it slowly, prolonging my pain and suffering.
How in the hell did I start falling for not one, but two men? And then find out that both of them know each other. Pushing off the door, I make my way down the hallway, stopping only to pick my phone up from the desk, my mind frantically piecing all the details together. Malcolm talking about his breakup from his ex. How he broke it off with him because he was tired of hiding. Jefferson explaining how he broke up with the love of his life because they were in two different places in their relationship.
How could I be so damn stupid?
Everything was right there in front of me, and I was too naïve or blind to see it.
Slowly I make my way to my bed, pulling back the covers before sitting down on the edge. He told me not to, but there’s no way in hell I’m letting Jefferson pay for tonight. I quickly send off an email to Foxy, asking her to please refund the money. That I was sick and was not able to perform my duties according to the agreement.
I don’t have a message from Malcolm. So either tonight went well, and he wanted to see Jefferson. Or it went terribly, and he wanted to talk to him. Either way, he didn’t choose to message me.
“He didn’t even check if I was doing okay?” I say out loud, pettiness etched in every word.
I plug my phone in, huffing like a kid who’s had his favorite toys taken away from him.
“Stop, neither of them were your boyfriend. You knew Malcolm wanted his ex back. The only difference is now you have a pretty damn good clue who it is.”
I fall backward on the bed, immediately regretting the decision as a wave of nausea overtakes me. I sit up quickly and rush across the room toward the hallway. Unfortunately, fate wants to give me a swift kick in the ass and I stumble over a stray shoe on the floor, and fall, catching the weight of my body with my hands. But I’d rather have smacked the floor with my head.
Puke spurts from my mouth like a geyser, splashing back up, hitting me in the face.
I just want to die. Where’s a black hole or sink hole when you need it? I’d even take quicksand at the moment.
Coming up on my knees, I slowly push up from the floor and step over the vileness covering the floor. Thank God it’s not on any carpet. I make my way down the hall and into the kitchen. I’m pulling my shirt over my head as I do, being careful not to drop anything on the floor. Well, nothing more than there is already and drop it by the laundry room. I’ll deal with it later.
Opening the storage closet, I grab a roll of paper towels, a Swiffer and a trash bag.
I need to clean this floor first; my emotions can wait. Preferably when I don’t feel like death is knocking at my door.
Malcolm
Jefferson: OMW
I don’t know how long I stared at that message. Shock from the night’s events and from his reply have me almost in a catatonic state.
Paige and the kids left about thirty minutes after Alice dropped her bombshell.
