I pointed to the other end of the hall, figuring she’d want to be as far from me as possible.
“I… is there one closer?”
“To mine?”
She nodded, that damn hair hanging over her eyes so much that I couldn’t read her reasoning behind the question.
“Yes.”
“There’s one right beside mine. Would you prefer that?”
She nodded again, so I wasn’t about to argue. Having her closer felt right to me too. I led her down the hall to the door opposite mine.
“This one okay?” I pushed the door open and waited for her to step inside. It was nicely decorated, in shades of creams and greys, because neutral is best when it’s a guest room. Unfortunately neutral just looked bland to me now. She liked bright colours, berry colours particularly. The bed wasn’t made, but I could grab bedding for her, but even that was in neutral tones. It didn’t feel right for her. She was too bright for this room, or at least she used to be.
“I… we can repaint if you like… make it more you?”
Glory sighed, staring at the emotionless room with even less feeling.
“It’s fine. I don’t like colour anyway.”
Wait, what?
“Yes, you do. Berry colours, it was always those. Purples mostly.”
She shot me a glare. “Children like bright colours. I’m a grown up.”
Fuck me. Did he take that from her too? Fury soared inside my chest as I absorbed yet another form of abuse from that fucker.
“I’m going to find him, Glory. I’m going to tear him apart, and watch him bleed out.”
She gasped, spinning on her heel and backing into the room, her hair revealing fear on her face, but aimed at him or me?
“You… NO! You… don’t…”
“Glory…”
“You’re just like him!” She slammed the door in my face, and left me staring at the wood, also fucking grey, while I absorbed the insult she just threw at me. Just like him? What the fuck.
Slumped on the sofa,coffee in hand, and wondering what the fuck to do next, I grabbed my phone when it rang and answered without even checking the screen. Did it matter who it was? If it was someone selling something they were about to get a verbal assault they wouldn’t be expecting.
“Yeah.”
“You sound like hell, brother.” Micro. Was he ringing to check on us? Was this really the kind of club I’d finally found?
“Yeah, sorry. What’s up?”
He snorted. “Wanted to see if you guys are all settled there, or if you need anything. I’d send a prospect, but you know, that’s you, so…”
How did that make me laugh, when it felt like I’d just been destroyed from the inside out? I felt raw, like her words had carved me open, flayed me.
“We’re good, thanks.”
“Really?”
My chest seemed to clench, as if my heart was literally breaking.
“No,”I whispered, feeling like the biggest pussy ever. This was the president I wanted to impress, and I was doing just the opposite. Being a wuss when he expected me to be strong.
