I owe him an explanation at least, so I don’t respond with the sass I gave Levi. “Now that he thinks I’m unavailable, he keeps trying to fuck me. It happened first at the dinner where you announced your engagement, then he vanished and ignored me for two months, and now he’s back. He took my wine so I went to retrieve it and I punched him in the face. The wine bottle broke, he tried to fuck me again, I knocked his drugs out of his hand, and here we are. Oh, and I told him he’s on his own this tour. He’s Carter’s problem now.”
Bash slumps back against the wall and cusses under his breath. “Sid, I know he’s fucked up and I’m busy all the time now, but please don’t quit.”
Quit?
“I’m not leaving you, Bash. This is the best job I’ll ever have in my whole life, I just plan on doing it for once instead of splitting my time and helping him when he doesn’t care.”
He seems relieved I’m not leaving and stands straighter again. “He cares. It’d be easier for all of us if he didn’t. Come on, let’s go dance.”
Finally, an idea I can get behind. I probably have a solid thirty minutes before I violently disrespect the bathroom once again, so for the next half hour, I’m giving them fun Sidney.
I think I’ve done enough damage for today.
Chapter Five:
Without Me
Levi
God, I’m such an asshole.
I shouldn’t be here. I told myself not to come as I was driving around town trying to clear my head, and here I am standing in front of Sidney’s condo anyway.
The wedding was beautiful, but I haven’t seen Sid since — and after two months without him, I don’t think I can stay away. I was miserable, and I’d rather he be punching me in the face than not around me. They should study whatever’s wrong with me.
I tell myself to turn around with each step I take and contemplate booking it after I ring the doorbell, but my feet stay planted.
I deserve whatever ire he has for me. Hell, I crave it.
But when he opens the door and his expression goes from curious to heartbroken, I fear I made a mistake. “Oh, it’s you.”
“Sorry to disappoint.” I should leave. Me being here only proves my point that I’ll never deserve him. And yet... “Can I come in?”
He glances down at his baggy sweats and his stained t-shirt and shrugs, stepping aside. “Keep five feet away from me or I’ll make sure to leave a mark this time.”
There he is. Fuck, I miss him.
Walking in, I look around his living space and realize how long it’s been since I’ve been here. “Am I interrupting something?”
“No, not really. I’m doing laundry.” He fidgets for a minute, then sits down on the edge of the couch. “What’s up?”
I only hesitate for a second before I join him. “So, I was thinking about that punch.”
His eyes scan my face. “Was it a punch? I thought those were supposed to result in broken noses and black eyes. I don’t see either.”
