Page 46 of Flawless

“Sucks having to run into your ex all over town, doesn’t it?”

My guard went up immediately. “You, uh, see Kelly often?”

“More often than I’d like. I’d be happy if I never had to see her again. But it seems like everywhere I go, she’s there.”

He hadn’t mentioned running into her once, yet I told him every time I saw Dean. I tried not to make too much of it, but it irritated me that he didn’t show me the same courtesy.

“I’m sure that’s not a coincidence. She’s made no secret of the fact she wants you back⁠—”

“And I’ve made no secret of the fact that’s not happening. Ever.”

His decisive tone helped to ease some of my tension, but I knew women like her, and they never went away quietly.

“You want me to have a little chat with her? I’d be happy to.” Obviously, my message when we’d run into her hadn’t been direct enough.

“No, baby. It’s all good. I’ve got to get back at it. Another meeting in ten minutes. I just wanted you to know I’m thinking about you, gorgeous. And I love you.”

The smile spread across my face as I let his words seep in.

“I love you too.” And I wasn’t too proud to admit I was counting the sleeps until I got to see him again.

I was just falling asleep that night, expecting a call from Cam when I got a text from him instead, with a video attachment.

The next text read, WTF?

I was in shock as I watched the video of me having sex… with Dean.

It was time-stamped the night of the event we’d attended.

To my knowledge, he’d never recorded any intimate moments between us when we were together, but I couldn’t put anything past him.

My heart was hammering as I tapped the screen to call Cam.

“Ohmigod,” I said, as soon as he picked up. “I don’t know what the hell that is, but you have to believe me, I haven’t been with him in almost a year.” When he didn’t respond, I whispered, “Cam, come on. You’ve got to believe me.”

“What I have to believe,” he said, slowly. “Is my own eyes. I made the mistake of having blind faith in someone once before. I won’t do that again.”

“You can’t be serious!” I shouted. “You’re comparing me to that bitch… who cheated on you?”

It felt like he was ripping my heart out. How could he question my fidelity?

He sounded pissed, and slightly intoxicated, making me question how long he’d been stewing over that video.

“Before she cheated on me, she seemed all sweet and innocent too. Acting like I was the only man in the world for her, that she loved me, wanted to get married and⁠—”

“I’m not her! I wouldn’t do that to you.”

I jumped up and started pacing the floor as fear and rage coursed through me. I didn’t want to lose him, but I couldn’t believe what he was accusing me of. When I saw my rat-bastard ex, I was going to skin him alive.

It sounded like he was drinking, chugging in fact, before he said, “I should have known this was too good to be true. Women like you don’t settle down with just one man. You⁠—”

“Are you implying that I’m a slut?” My head was spinning right now, like straight out of the Exorcist.

“Don’t put words in my mouth, Rylee. And don’t act like you’re the injured party. You⁠—”

“I didn’t do anything!”

I was screaming so loud my neighbours could probably hear me and I didn’t give a shit. Defending myself had never meant so much, but I’d never been so heartbroken that I had to. I thought this guy, above all others, would always believe in me. I thought he would always have my back.