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Angry tears burned at my eyes, heating my cheeks. “You’re a bastard Ethan Chambers. I won’t let you manipulate my feelings to get what you want. Not this time.”
I jerked the door farther open, then slammed it behind me as I left the office. If Ethan or Louis said anything after that, I didn’t hear them. All I could hear was the rushing in my own ears and my clopping boots on the floor of the hall as I stomped away.
Whatever happened after this, I promised myself I was done with Ethan. For good.
Chapter 12
I got into my car and drove, filled with a building rage I couldn’t quell. Maybe it was the mention of my ex, that bastard, or maybe it was the fear at the idea of being put in prison. Maybe it was just that asshole Ethan who seemed to find all my buttons and press them mercilessly. I didn’t know or care. All that mattered was getting away from that office, away from the mess my life had become
Although Cody was waiting for me and I knew I should head home, I couldn’t make myself do it. I was still so mad. My body trembled with anger and I knew my cheeks were stained with tears. I used that as justification for not going straight home to Cody. After all, he was six, not stupid. He’d know just by looking at me that something was wrong.
So I found myself driving around aimlessly before finally coming to a stop outside of an apartment building that wasn’t mine. Instead, it was Jessie’s.
I stared at it for a while, still behind the wheel, before deciding to get out and head up.
Jessie had asked for the night off so she could hang out with a couple of girlfriends of hers that were in town for the weekend. I’d granted it to her so I knew if she was even home, she would still be with them.
It wasn’t right of me to bug her with my problems when she was having a fun girl’s night out—or in—but I didn’t have a lot of friends. I had Jessie and that was about it.
Deciding it was okay to be selfish given the circumstances, I headed up the three flights of stairs to Jessie’s apartment. The elevator was broken. Again. Standing outside her door, I paused.
From inside I could hear the thrumming of semi-loud music and the carefree laughter of women who had probably already had a drink or two.
Raising my fist, I knocked on the door. When no one answered, I knocked again. I was about to knock for a third time when the door opened to reveal a scantily clad Jessie. She was rosy cheeked and grinning, though her eyes looked focused and clear. I hoped she was still sober.
“Diana! Are you taking a night off, too?” she asked, her eyes sparking with excitement. “Come in, come in!”
I let her usher me in, knowing that I was about to her plans for the night.
“You want a drink?”
I shook my head. “No. How many have you had?” Not that I cared, but I wanted to know if I was going to be dealing with a babbling, can’t keep her voice down Jessie or the sharp, sober one that I needed right now.
She waved off my question. “I’ve had half a beer. I am high on music and dancing!”
I could see why. The little apartment was full of a half dozen women, all around Jessie’s age, and each dancing away to music I couldn’t stand to listen to. They were dressed like Jessie, short skirts, low cut tops, makeup done to perfection. They looked good, but definitely like they belonged at a club, not at home.
“Can we talk for a minute?”
Maybe it was the tone of my voice or just the question itself, but Jessie’s smile dropped and she stopped to really look at me. She frowned at whatever she found on my face. “Have you been crying?”
I felt angry tears build again and nodded.
She took me by the shoulder and led me to her bedroom. Clothes were strewn everywhere, her bed was unmade, and there were mismatched heels by the edge of her bed.
“Sorry about the mess,” she briefly apologized, then threw the comforter back to sort of smooth out the bed. She plopped down and patted the mattress beside her to encourage me to do the same. “Tell me what happened.”
I dropped down on the bed and unloaded on her. I told her about Tommy and then I told her about Ethan. “He’s an ass. An unbelievable ass. I mean, after everything I’ve done for him, he wants more? Now he wants my life?”
I looked to Jessie, expecting her to have the same indignant expression that I suspected was on my own face. But instead, I found her frowning a little.
