Ryker
It’s been three days since she left, and the apartment feels… empty. I’ve lived my entire life up until she came along, happy to have my own space, where I could be alone in peace and quiet. But I got used to having her here. Memories of drinking coffee while she shuffled around in the morning, doing god knows what, flood my mind and goddamn I’m not a crier, but I feel the tears burning behind my eyes, threatening to break free. I didn’t know what I was missing in my life until Arabella. My world was black and white until she came along and brought all the colors with her. I have no clue how I’m supposed to live without her.
I’m at my desk, trying to get some work done, when my phone buzzes and I see a text from Hayes come through.
HAYES:Your girl came by this morning and quit. Thought you’d wanna know.
ME:She’s not my girl anymore. Did she say why she quit? I told her I’d work from home and she could keep the job.
HAYES:She’s not your girl. Got it. Whatever you say, big guy.
HAYES:She didn’t say why. Sorry.
ME:Thanks for letting me know.
HAYES:Anytime. So can you come back to work, please? It’s fucking weird without you here. I’m tired of putting up with Axel’s bullshit alone. I’m pretty sure I heard him fucking someone in his office the other day.
ME:Have the cleaning company fucking sanitize his space next time they come in. Christ.
I toss my phone back on the desk. Why the fuck would she quit? I explicitly told hernotto.Except she doesn’t have to listen to you anymore, dickhead.
Running my fingers through the excess growth on my face, I let out a long breath. It’s getting itchy and I need to shave, but I can’t find it in me to give a fuck.
I’ll go back to Gravity soon enough. I’m not ready yet. Too many memories exist within its walls and I’m not ready to face them yet. I acted so selfless when I told her I’d stay home to work, when I was just being a selfish coward. It’s not only her I can’t face, it’s the things she touched, the air she breathed andthe space she existed in. It’s probably why I’m so restless here, but my office is the one place in the apartment we were rarely in together. So for now, I’ll sleep here until I no longer feel haunted by the memory of the beautiful girl that used to be mine.
65
Arabella
What’s that sound? Is someone knocking on the door?
“Go away,” I yell. Although I’m not sure they can even hear me from my bedroom. I hear the faint rumblings of an argument in the distance as I pull the comforter over my head to shield my eyes from the sunlight and try to block out whatever noises are coming from the hallway.
My front door slams a few minutes later and it’s at this moment I decide playing dead is my best option. Well, not dead… asleep, but I sleep like the dead, so it’s basically the same thing.
“Arabella Bradley! Get. The. Fuck. Out. Of. Bed.” Wrinley pulls the covers off me in one swift motion and my eyes pop open at the intrusion. Oh great, she didn’t come alone.
Fucking bitch.
“Wrinleyyyy!” I whine while trying to pull the covers back up. “Leave me alone, please.”
“Arabella, knock it the fuck off.” Axel. This is none of his damn business. “Seriously, when was the last time you showered? Ortook out the trash? It looks like a Taco Bell tornado went through the living room, for fuck’s sake.”
“Seriously?” Wrinley chastises my big brother. Good luck with that Wrin. My brother has always done whatever the fuck he wants with no consequences. “We talked about this. You’re supposed to go easy on her. Not insult her the second we walk through the door.”
“Whatever. I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true. She fucking stinks. I can smell her from here. No offense.”Some taken.
“You both need to shut the fuck up and get the fuck out. Since when do you two do anything civil with each other? You hate each other.”
They regard each other for a moment, before Wrinley speaks up. “You’re right. You’re brother’s an asshole, but we’re worried about you. No one has seen you in weeks, and it looks like you’re halfway to hoarder status,” she explains as she sits on the edge of the bed. “I called Axel and asked him to come with me for backup. You need to get up and get dressed.”
“It’s not like anything matters anymore, anyway,” I mutter under my breath.
“Did you forget about Mom’s birthday dinner?”
I did forget.
“Yes,” I answer plainly.
