I want the world silent, the moment reduced to the sharp immediacy of touch. I wantnow.
We kiss until we don’t. My back hits the door, and everything around us shrinks to the heat of him. The doorknob presses into me, the pulse of my heartbeat against my throat. And just when nothing exists beyond motion and the dizzy, aching rush of choosing this, I moan, my release riding through me. He groans through his own against my neck.
I’m breathless, fisting the fabric of his shirt, staring unfocused in the mirror. My hair’s a mess, my pulse still hammering, but underneath it, there’s calm. A startling, solid quiet that comes from picking what I wanted, consequences be damned.
Daniel steps back, wisely not leaning in for a kiss now that the moment’s gone. He’s handling the condom. Nothing’s leaking; everything stayed where it should.
I grab my underwear, shimmying my skirt down, and toss my hair back.
“Hey,” he whispers. “It’s good. I’m aware this wasn’t some grand romantic moment. I’m fine with that. Happy to be of service any time.”
I nod, grateful he said it. “Meet me outside when you’re ready,” I say.
I unlock the door, smoothing the fabric down as I walk out. Every step feels strange and raw. The aftertaste of freedommakes me almost giddy. Escaping never felt this clean. And the thought of leaving this city filled with cracks I failed to see feels even better.
“Robyn?”
The voice cuts through the noise, familiar but distorted by the music. I lift my eyes, and there they are. Cognac-colored eyes I used to lose myself in.Nate.
The bathroom door opens behind me. Daniel steps out and steadies me at my back.
I don’t look away from Nate, even when so much pain takes over his face you’d think I stabbed him. He has no right, though, not withherstanding next to him, with her phone clutched in her hands, directed toward me. Tessa.
I may have finally surrendered, but he surrendered first.
CHAPTER 18
The Retaliation
Nate
Robyn’sin front of me.
Her head’s down, one hand tugging at the hem of her skirt, smoothing the fabric down her thighs. Her hair’s messy in a way that isn’t her—pieces coming loose from the ponytail, cheeks flushed.
My body goes still—I’m with fucking Tessa. The sound of the bar dulls, muffled under the rush of blood in my ears.
“Robyn?”
Then a tall beefy guy, with a mop of blond hair on his head, steps out. From the same door. He places his hand on the small of her back and leans in to whisper in her ear. He looks unsettled too—shirt untucked, mouth swollen.
She freezes, fingers still on her skirt, eyes flicking up and drawn to mine. Her breath catches and the color drains from her face.
The guy’s hand drops, casual, but he doesn’t square up.He’s unashamed, not hiding anything. They don’t need to because I already know.
It hits low in my gut first, but the pain morphs into anger and rapidly spreads—hot, acidic. I’ve been racking my head about how to get her back for weeks, and she’s been running into someone else’s arms and dick. She doesn’t even need me forthis.
I glance between them, my mouth twisting before the words even form. “Guess you really meant it when you said you wouldn’t wait,” I say, the words coming out rougher than I meant them to. “Didn’t think you’d move on in a bar bathroom. Real classy, Robyn. To each their own, I guess.”
Her eyes meet mine for half a beat before darting away. Her mouth pulls tight, then twists, and she doesn’t try to speak again.
I laugh, but it’s short and sharp, no humor in it. “Don’t worry,” I add, stepping aside, “I’ll get out of your way. This was my cue to move on myself.” And before I even think, blinded by jealousy and rage, I wrap my arm around Tessa’s waist.
I shoulder past her, the smell of her orange blossom shampoo hitting me, then I look back over my shoulder and see Robyn’s utter devastation.
What the fuck did I just do?I hurt her, she breaks up with me, she tells me she isn’t going to wait. She’s done nothing wrong. Then I hurt her even more. I’m more like my father than I ever thought possible… And yet, I can’t hold myself still. I move past her into the other room, with Tessa under my arm.
As soon as I turn the corner, I yank my arm off Tessa and step a good three feet away from her. Hand buried in my hair, I tug at the strands. She stands by the wall, wide-eyed. All my anger at Robyn dissipates and all that’s left is hollow, boiling self-hatred.
