AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She snatches her hand away as if she’s been electrocuted as her cheeks flame. I drop my gaze to the diamond decorating her finger, then lift my eyes to meet hers. My jaw clenches until pain sears through my entire face.
That should be my ring on her finger, and if I hadn’t fucked everything to hell, it would be.
It would be if she had talked to me or just listened once in the past eight months.
I thought I was playing by her rules. Giving her space while reminding her as much as possible that I was still here, waiting for her to be finally ready to hear me out. So we could put this shit behind us and move forward. Like she wanted. Like I wanted.
Now she’s wearing some douche’s ring and still won’t let me explain, apologize… fuck, I would’ve begged. Probably will still end up doing just that.
God, I’m going to hell for what I’m thinking. For what I’m about to do. But I’d be a fool not to use the opportunity. Something tells me that’s what Maddox and Ryder had in mind. Just maybe not the way I’m about to do it.
But she’ll never listen, and I’m not sure she’d believe me if she did. So, I do what she expects. What she already believes I mean.
“If you talk to Maddox, it will raise questions.”
Yep, I’m a manipulative ass. I hate myself for saying it after I swore if she gave me another chance, I would never say it again, but technically, she hasn’t given me another chance… yet. She will. I won’t stop until she’s back where she belongs.
With me.
I didn’t spend weekends in California for nothing. Didn’t call and text every damn day and get ignored to lose this battle. Not when I have a girl to win.
The vitriol that emanates from her lashes at me like a whip. I flinch from the glare that disguises the pain I caused. “I hate you,” she spits. “I hate you so much.”
Another lash to my heart I keep hidden as I nod. “I know, but it doesn’t change things.”
“Fine.” She spins around, stomping to the door.
“Where are you going? We have things to discuss.”
“Reschedule. I’ve reached my asshole quota for the day.”
The door slams as she storms out. I walk across the room, sink into the leather chair behind my new desk, spin toward the windows overlooking Manhattan, and steeple my fingers with a grin.
I don’t deserve Lily, but she’s mine. I played nice. Now, it’s time to remind her who she belongs to.
It’s time to get my girl back.
Lily
Head up. Smile. Make eye contact. Keep your hands loose.
I remind myself to do this as I walk out of Liam’s office, putting one Converse in front of the other, and walk across the commercial carpeting, refusing to let anyone see how affected I am. They won’t see how my blood is boiling with fury in my veins. Have no idea how badly I want to turn around, go back into that office, and punch that son of a bitch right in the face after I kick him square in the balls.
I wave at a few faces I recognize as I stroll past offices with people lingering, talking about the recent changes that were dropped on them today. I smile wide as I pass Dylan, Wyatt, Corey, and Knox, knowing they are going to Liam’s office because my brother told me Ryder and Maddox have plans for their band. It has struggled with members and other things for years, but, according to Angel, they’re too good to let fall to the wayside. They nod, and I wink even though punching them in the face might be almost as satisfying. Hitting any man might feel good right now.
But I know how to play the part until I’m out of the building. Thank you, Mom, for the great acting genes. My dad might not be happy if he has to come to New York to get me out of assault and arson charges. Because torching this mother fucking office sounds satisfying, too. I almost wish I had a car for a reason to go to the garage. His car is just sitting in there, pretty as a picture, waiting for my special brand of affection. Dammit, why did I send his apartment keys back to him?
Livid. Enraged. I didn’t wake up and choose violence because I had no idea what today held. If I’d known what these assholes had planned, I would’ve refused.
I press the gold button on the wall and wait with a forced smile still in place, waiting for the elevator. When the shiny doors open, I step inside the elegant, mirrored lift, shove my palms against my mouth, and scream.
Eight months. That’s how long I avoided being in the same place as Liam Parsons. I’ve ignored every text, call, and email. Refused to leave the house when he would spend weekends parked outside of my father’s house until I figured out his pattern and made a point to be somewhere else.
Extreme? Yes. Cowardly? Maybe. Necessary? Absolutely.
When I left for California, I didn’t look back. I couldn’t.
For years, we had on-again/off-again secret rendezvous. A weekend here. A few weeks there. He felt guilty for wanting me, letting our age difference make him feel like a bad person, and worried about my brother finding out about us and losing his job, but I didn’t care. The sex was phenomenal, and he didn’t seem to mind the age difference when he was pounding into me.
