Page 51 of The Truth of Us

I stared at my phone, then at the empty elevator, at the empty apartment… Then at the glass in my hand. A minute later I was pouring another drink, and telling myself I had done nothing wrong.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Until I almost believed it.

I woke up on Sunday with a pounding headache, an empty apartment, and the knowledge that Harper still hadn't returned a single call.

By noon, I had convinced myself she was being unreasonable.

By two I was convinced she was punishing me.

By four, I was halfway through a bottle of expensive scotch and telling myself she had no right to be upset.

The arrangement was over; that was the whole point. The contract ended at midnight. I hadn't cheated. I hadn't lied or broken any rules.

The fact that the argument sounded weaker every time I repeated it was becoming increasingly problematic.

At five I got a call letting me know I had visitors, and for a moment I had hoped she had calmed down and come to see me. But it was Theo and Caleb who arrived a few minutes later.

Theo took one look at me and laughed. "You look like shit."

"Fuck off." I barked.

"Looks like somebody already did." He chuckled.

I glared at him, and Theo dropped onto my couch, completely unbothered by the hostility. Caleb remained standing, his eyes trailing over the space and then settling on me.

"So?" Theo asked.

"So what?"

"What happened?" Theo asked in an almost sing-song tone.

I took a drink, trying to ignore the question.

Finally, Caleb sighed. "Did you talk to her?"

"No."

Theo barked out a laugh. "Well, that's a great start."

"She left." I murmured.

Theo's eyebrows rose. "Left?"

"She came to the building." I added, and Caleb went still. I looked away from him before adding, "Then she left."

The silence stretched, then Theo asked carefully, "Why?"

I looked between them, looking for some kind of support, but neither of them seemed interested in helping me.

"She saw someone leaving."

Caleb closed his eyes, as if he physically couldn't deal with me.