“Until you resign.”
I give him a stifled smile, well that’s better than never, I guess. “Two more shifts to go.”
He raises an eyebrow as he walks into the bathroom. “We’ll see.” I hear him mutter under his breath. I hear him brushing his teeth, and then he reappears again. He moves to the bottom of the bed and pulls the blankets back to grab my foot. He drags me to the end of the bed, and I laugh out loud. He bends and kisses my sex.
“Last night was amazing,” he whispers before kissing me on the inner thigh.
My heart swells as I watch him, “It was, wasn’t it?” I smile.
He kisses my sex again. “I have to go. Stop distracting me.”
I giggle and sit up. “I’m not saying anything.”
He turns and raises his eyebrows.
I curl my finger. “Come here.”
He dives over me on the bed, pinning my hands behind my head as he spreads my legs with his knee.
“Until next time,” he whispers as he looks down at me, his face millimeters from mine.
My stomach flutters. “Until next time.”
He kisses me softly and then gets up and walks down the hallway with purpose. I hear the front door click closed, and I smile goofily up at the ceiling and scrunch my eyes shut tight in excitement.
Until next time.
I watch my glass of water bouncing across my desk to the beat of the loud music next door.
This is fucking bullshit.
I close my eyes and turn up the volume on my headphones.
It’s fine. It’s totally fine.
I hear something smash up against our shared wall, and I tear my headphones off.
What was that?
I hear screaming and laughter follow. She must have at least thirty people in her tiny room. I’ve called security three times already tonight, and none of them ever come because Penelope is fucking them all.
My phone beeps with a text from Brandon.
I can hear Penny’s party from here.
Do you want to sleep on my floor?
I exhale heavily, no I don’t want to sleep on a mattress on someone’s floor.
“Drink it down, down, down, down,” the chorus of drunk people chant on the other side of the wall.
I text him back.
Thank you.
I’ll be there soon xo
Twenty minutes later, I knock on Brandon’s door. He answers wearing his flannel pajamas.
“Hi.” He stands back to let me walk past him.
I smile at his cute little get up. He’s so young at only eighteen, yet he’s already made up a bed on the floor for me.
“Do you want to sleep in my bed?” he asks. “It’s way more comfortable.”
“No.” I drop my bag on the dresser. “The floor is great, thank you.”
“Do you want to watch a movie?”
“Yeah, okay.” I smile, because I already know I won’t be watching the movie. I’ll be lying on the floor, daydreaming about my Mr. Garcia.
I wish tonight was next time.
I sit in a cafe and smile as I read through the Saturday morning paper.
Today’s the day.
After my little slumber party last night on the floor, I’m determined to find a new apartment. I don’t care where or what it is, as long as it’s half decent, I’m taking it.
I circle another one to look at.
“Here you go.” The waitress arrives with my pancakes.
“Thank you.” I fold my paper in half and put it on the bench seat beside me. I sip my coffee and begin to eat my blueberry pancakes. Yum, these are good. I take a big bite and then glance down at my folded newspaper.
I frown when I see Sebastian.
I quickly open the paper and read the headline on the back. It’s the social page.
Highflyers for Charity
There’s a picture of him and two men, and they each have a beautiful woman on their arm.
I read the note beside the picture: Julian and Brielle Masters, Spencer and Charlotte Jones, and Sebastian Garcia with partner Gabriella Beckman attending the Governor’s Charity Ball in London.
I quickly read the article. The ball took place last night, meaning he spent Thursday night with me, took me a million times, and then he spent Friday night with her.
Did he have her a million times, too?
My heart constricts with disappointment.
Asshole.
April
I sit back in my chair, wow.
A smile crosses my face, and here I was thinking that he was damaged in some way.
Sebastian isn’t damaged. He was just feeling guilty. I give a subtle shake with my head, I don’t know why I’m even surprised.
Actually, who am I kidding? I’m not surprised. I expect men to be a letdown. They always are.
I thought we had a connection, a little voice whispers from deep in my heart.
I fold the paper back in half and put it down with a heavy exhale.
My thoughts drift to the morning when we woke up and how he was with me. At the time, I did feel it was out of character for him to be so sweet, but I liked it, so I didn’t let my mind explore why. I can still hear his sexy, deep voice when he told me he was leaving, and he asked if I was okay. When he told me that he’d had an incredible night.
I roll my eyes. No wonder he was being all wonderful and caring, calling me babe and shit. Did he feel guilty then because he was going home to her? Is that why he was being nice? Or was he being so nice because he knew I was being a fucking idiot for him?
God.
I’m not his babe.
Screw him, and screw the lot of them.
With a shaky hand, I sip my coffee. I have no idea why I thought he was different.
Because he is, that pathetic bitch who lives in my heart argues.
I go over the cold hard facts-the ones I can’t deny.
I met him in a brothel, and deep down, I already knew who he was.
“Can I get you anything?” the waiter asks, interrupting my thoughts.
“No, I’m good. Great, actually.” I smile up at him.
“Let me know if you want another coffee,” he smiles.
“Sure thing.”
I watch him walk away, and I lift the drink to my lips with a sad smile.
You know you’re fucked up when you’re secretly relieved when a man shows his true colors. Call it what you will-an alarm bell, a sixth sense, or the universe looking out for me-but I know it’s just a little reminder of what it feels like to be hurt by someone you love.
And a warning to never go there again.
“Hmm, I’m going to have that, too.” I smile as I hand over my menu.
“So, anyway,” Lara continues. “Now I’m going to get a bad mark, all because this stupid witch couldn’t be bothered to do her half of the assignment.”