Page 100 of The Wright Man

Muffled, primal, unladylike.

I needed the release. I just wasn't gonna give Gavin the satisfaction of seeing—or hearing—me snap.

I stayed there for a second, face buried, heart pounding. Then I sat up and paced, barefoot and fuming, hands clenched at my sides.

I pulled out my phone, fingers flying.

SisterSisterSister Chat

Me: Y'all...

Tina :

Me: Gavin brought Theo and Boyd over for "boys' night."

Me: They're downstairs. On my couch. Drinking my beer. Breathing my air.

Me: And Gavin thinks this shit is funny.

Me: Tonight may end in homicide.

Bella : What the entire fuck.

Tina : That little red-boned BITCH.

I let out a half laugh, half growl.

I started pacing again, chewing my bottom lip raw, trying to decide whether to cry, punch a hole in the wall, or both. Gavin knew how much I was looking forward to tonight. He knew how much I needed it, how much I deserved one damn night of peace before everyone disappeared for the next few months.

And he had to make it about him.

He couldn't stand not being the center of attention. Couldn't let me have anything that wasn't about him.

Still... I paused.

Was it me?

He had been trying lately. The flowers. The little attempts at conversation. The apology that, while still full of shit, had looked like effort. I hadn't thawed, not even a little. I still hadn't cashed in that "raincheck" from last week. He'd made a move toward me and I backed away.

Was I just being cold?

But then I remembered.

I remembered the years of silence. Of eye-rolls and passive-aggressive jabs. The weeks of sleeping back-to-back, and then sleeping in separate beds, him choosing his ego over my feelings every single time. The way I'd begged for love that should've been given.

And Maleek.

Maleek—who loved me like it was the most natural thing in the world. Without expecting anything in return. Who sent me dumb little memes just to make me smile. Who checked in on me just because he knew when something felt heavy.

No.

This wasn't on me.

This was Gavin being Gavin.

I opened the group chat again.

SisterSisterSister Chat