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Walking into my bathroom, I turn on the mellow under lighting and decide to take a bath. I stare at my phone again, sitting on the edge of the tub as I wait for it to fill up. The guy is utterly useless when it comes to dating, and I’m no better, but at least I’m trying over here.
Me
Make a show of me at some point during the game. Turn toward me, smile…pretend like you’re happy I’m there. And afterward, maybe I’ll walk over to you, and you can hug me, kiss my forehead…I don’t know. We’ll need to show affection in some way.
Dom
Kissing isn’t a good idea.
Me
Not even on the forehead?
Dom
No
Me
Okay
Dom
Anything else?
Good to know you find me so repulsive.
Me
Nope. Take care.
Pressing down the button on the side of my phone to power it off, I wait for the screen to turn black before throwing the device onto the counter. Stripping out of my clothes, I stare at my reflection in the mirror. I’m a decent-looking woman, and if he doesn’t want anything to do with me, that’s fine. I’ll find someone who will give me the attention I want.
I step inside the scalding-hot water, trying not to let that last comment from Dominik bother me as much as it does. What is it about me he finds so disgusting? Is it because I’m Aaron’s sister? A part of me wants to find the answer because maybe it’ll be easier to move past it, to finally get some closure and stop the whiplash coming from him at all angles. But the other part of me, the less mature Zoe, wants to never talk to him again.
There is no way in hell he treats other people in his life this way.
I’m overwhelmed with regret for agreeing to this as I draw in a deep breath before plunging my body under the water, hoping it erases the lingering thoughts of Dominik from my mind.
CHAPTER 30
DOMINIK
My eyes are glued to my phone. I’ve been completely distracted, waiting for her to text me back after our last exchange. It’s not like her to ignore me, which means she’s likely pissed because I keep shutting down her suggestions to show any form of intimacy. I’m trying to be respectful, and she’s acting like a brat.
My palm twitches with the need to punish her for driving me this wild.
Doesn’t she understand that there is no other way? I can’t kiss her or be too close to her because I don’t trust myself around her.
I can’t kiss Zoe because she happens to be the last person I kissed. Therefore, whether it’s real or not, her lips won’t be coming close to mine. Because I’m afraid of what might happen if I taste her again.
Maybe it’s better this way.
I want her to hate me. It would make this entire exchange much easier. Which is why I should leave it alone tonight, turn my phone on silent, and go to sleep. What I should not be doing is worrying about her feelings or if she’s sitting there stewing or, worse, crying because I hurt her feelings.
It’s none of your business. You need to get used to being the mean guy.
Thirty agonizing minutes later and multiple useless attempts at trying to tell myself I don’t feel guilty, I finally get out of bed, throw on a pair of gray sweatpants, and decide to go upstairs to check on her.
