“Zach,” she whines. “I can get you another coffee machine.”
“You broke my trust, stole from me, and think I want you anywhere near me?” My jaw works. “You need to leave.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“He does,” Denver snaps. “I mean it too. He won’t be the one calling the cops, either. It’ll be me.”
“Shut up, you fat cow. This is between me and my boyfriend.”
I see red at the insult.
“You get out of my apartmentnowor I’ll call security and record it and post it on all my socials. Think of the humiliation,” I taunt.
Her eyes bulge, then turn pleading. “Zach, don’t be like this. I can make it up to you. I’ll do anything.”
“Have some self-respect, Addison, sheesh. I don’t like you. In fact, I think you’re a twat but you’re beautiful. No way should you be sucking up to a manwhore like Zach.”
“Thanks, D,” I say dryly, amused when she just hitches a shoulder.
Not only does Addison fail to appreciate D’s defense, she stomps her foot. “Shut it, bitch! You stole?—”
“You can’t steal a person. And that’s the last time you’ll call Denver a bitch.” I turn to Denny. “Do you know where my phone is, gorgeous?”
“I’ll be right back.”
“Gorgeous?” Addison warbles the moment Denny runs up the stairs to get my cell.
“Get out.”
“Gorgeous?!” She takes in my appearance and glances at the staircase D just ran up. “Are you fucking her?!”
“No. I’m not.” When her brow puckers, I smirk. “I don’t fuck Denny. I worship her. Because she’s a goddess who doesn’t deserve for you to breathe the same air as her. Now, why the hell are you still standing here?”
The only option open to me is public humiliationorcrowding her. It doesn’t sit well with me, using my size against her, but I press forward, making her back up. This time, she doesn’t try to touch me, but her gaze lingers on the staircase.
Either Denny’s watching or she’s waiting for her.
Whichever—I don’t like that expression.
I push on ahead, not stopping until she’s in the hall.
One of our neighbors chooses that precise moment to leave for work and, hiding a groan, I tip my chin at him in greeting.
Only when his back is to me, because his interest was way too high for this early on a Friday morning, I rant, “Firstly, I amnotyour boyfriend. I never was your boyfriend and I never will be. Secondly, I want my key.”
Her mouth pinches. “I didn’t steal it. The doorman let me up.”
“You’re a fucking liar as well as a thief because that was the biggest load of bullshit I’ve heard in my life and I playhockey. All my teammates do is chirp.
“What happened with my front door? Did I accidentally leave it unlocked?” My sneer has her flinching. “Give me the key or I’ll call the police.”
Back to pouting, she tucks her hand in her pocket and retrieves my key. “I only wanted to surprise you.”
“You did. By showing me what a cunt you are. Don’t you talk shit about Denny ever again. Definitely not in front of me. If I hear about it, I’ll be the first to make your life miserable.”
“What are you going to do? Hit me?” she growls, flushed and ugly with it.
“Nah. I’ll just spread a certain rumor… You talk a lot when you’re drunk.”
