Page 21 of Vicious Titan

14

Victoria

Exhaustion. Anger. Numbness. I’ve rotated between the three feelings since the fight with Elliot yesterday. Exhaustion is the heaviest now as I lie in bed with the jerk just down the hallway. My anger peaked when he showed up at my house with Asher like everything was fine. Only a few moments here and there did I see the façade slip, but mostly he succeeded at pretending all was normal. Which I guess it is. Us fighting is definitely the norm, at least that’s how it feels.

The soft click of my door knob catches my attention, but I keep my eyes staring at the opposite wall. I hadn’t locked the door, assuming he would leave me alone, but that would be too easy. He doesn’t do easy. The bed shifts as he slides under the covers, lying next to but not touching me, even though I can feel the heat radiating from him.

“Get out,” I say flatly.

“Victoria—”

“Get. Out.”

“Please, hear me out. I’m—”

“Yes. You’re sorry. Blah, blah, blah. You were a dick. But you’re sorry now, so you want me to ride your dick. Hard pass.”

“Yes. I acted like a dick. Again. But I’m not here for sex. I wasn’t even going to bother trying, but I want to explain. Everything happened so fast. Heidi. Seeing her made it too real, then she knew your name. My dad swears he never told her your name, so I can’t understand how she knew it, but she did, and when she said it, I just freaked. I’m sorry, Victoria.”

“Okay. Now leave.” Because it’s best. Not only because Elliot is bound to crush my heart to smithereens again, but also, it’s easier to keep the secret from him that Olivia fears Richard tried to end her life. And now with the news of Richard’s pregnant mistress, it makes even more sense.

“You said to talk to you if I’m not good, and I’m not, not without you.”

“This isn’t about Olivia. This is about you. When I said I was done, I meant it.”

He curses under his breath as the bed shifts, his face tucking into my hair as his arm snakes around my waist. His lips brush against my neck as he says, “Don’t say that. Just give me another chance, just one more. Please.”

Done. I’m so fucking done giving him another chance.

Sliding out from under his arm, I move off the bed, heading to the door. He jumps out of bed to follow behind me, saying my name, but I don’t stop until I’m in front of Asher’s door.

“What are you doing?” Elliot asks, but I ignore him, pushing the door to my brother’s room open as Elliot follows me inside.

Stopping at the foot of the bed, I point to Elliot as Asher stirs, sitting up. He stares, blinking, at the two of us. “Elliot needs to sleep in here. He’s having nightmares again and wants to get some sleep but didn’t want to wake you.”

Elliot looks relieved. I’m guessing he thought I was going to blab about us, which reinforces my resolve that I’m doing the right thing. He’ll never fess up. Nothing will ever change.

“Man, I told you to wake me up if you need anything.”

“Nah. Lil’ V is just being dramatic, as usual. I’m good, but if I need to talk to anyone, I know I can count on you.” He says the words to Asher but keeps his heated gaze on me. “Thanks, Victoria.”

“No problem.” I give him a curt smile before quickly heading back to my room, slipping inside, and locking the door behind me. He is the problem. One that I want far away from me.