Page 5 of No Greater Oblivion

“He could easily find out if he wanted to.”

“But he doesn’t because he respects your privacy too much. Fucking pussy.”

I elbow him in the ribs and he winces, leaning forward just long enough for me to snatch the phone back. The call went to voicemail and he didn’t leave a message. Instead, a text message pops up on the screen.

A: you can’t be serious about the developers

Me: why are you still there? My lawyers sent an order to vacate the premises weeks ago

A: I don’t understand why you won’t just sell it to me

Damiano cranes his head and tries to get a look at what I’m typing. “What lawyers?”

“Damiano!” I lean away and finish my text.

Me: I don’t understand why it matters so much to you

“You’re not married are you?” he lifts a brow. “Not that I’m judging, but Rian can get a little trigger happy with his gun.”

“We weren’t married, it’s…” Another message comes in, distracting me. “We had a house together, or, well, he bought it for me. And I’m trying to sell it to these developers and he’s being difficult about it.”

His tone becomes serious. “Does Rian know?”

“Not yet.” My phone chimes with another text.

A: you know why

“Son of a fucking bitch.”

Damiano whistles. “I love it when you talk dirty to me.”

I type something then delete it. Type and delete again. Frustrated, I turn my phone off and shove it into my purse.

“Rian asked me to move in with him last week,” I confess.

He chokes on his drink. “He’s allergic to commitment and asked you to move in?”

I cut him a look.

“What did you say?”

“I almost said yes but…” My gaze wanders to my purse and I fight the temptation to check my phone again. “I’m a little tied up right now. I’ve been trying to distance myself and sever any connections between us but it’s been hard. Technically, he still supports me.”

“Really?” he asks and I nod. “If it’s the credit cards you’re worried about, I’ll take care of those. I don’t mind.”

I groan and drop my chin in the palm of my hand as I lean over the table. “You couldn’t afford me.”

He whistles. “That serious?”

“I can’t even afford me. I turned into exactly what I always promised myself I wouldn’t.”

“A shopaholic?”

“My mother,” I remark bitterly.

Financially dependent on a man without anything of my own, save a degree I’ve yet to put to use. To be fair, in my heartbreak and naivety, I really believed Alejandro and I would get back together. When that didn’t happen, I used his credit cards to exact revenge. Not that he was ever one to restrict my spending or make me feel like my financial freedom was limited but I wanted to make it hurt, if only a little bit. Foolish thinking on my part but there’s nothing I can do to change it now.

Except cut the cord.