Page 125 of Angel

‘Sorry, beautiful,’ I rasped out. ‘Got a lot on my mind.’

‘I see.’

She didn’t, and I winced; it wasn’t her fault I was back to being distant with her.

Two days after the rescue, I sat on the living room sofa with Roxy, with a movie playing on the TV.

My phone vibrated against my thigh with a relentless string of notifications from my ex.

Evangeline: I miss you, boo.

A second text followed.

Evangeline: I have this giant king bed all to myself, plus a massive TV. Wish you were here.

She cracked a cheeky, flirty joke about the empty mattress next to her.

She went on about how I belonged in that space, capping the message with two kisses and an angel emoji.

The same ones we used to always attach to our notes when we were together.

A minute afterward, another alert popped up.

Evangeline: Thanks for saving me, babe.

I ignored it.

Later that night, as I brushed my teeth, my screen lit up.

Evangeline: I still love you, my angel. Goodnight.

The entitled moxie irritated me to my core; she was flailing, trying to grab onto a lifeline, but I was unmoved.

I refused to let her drag me beneath the surface of her wreckage with her.

The real breaking point arrived during dinner the next evening.

Roxy had made shepherd’s pie, the aroma filling the dining room while we ate.

My phone flashed on the wooden table with a new text from Evangeline,

I checked it, and its tone, another attempt to lure me to her, made me twist my lips.

A myriad more followed, a barrage of other manipulative garbage that made my blood pressure spike.

I cursed under my breath at the torrent of texts.

Roxy set her fork down, her eyes locking onto mine.

‘Who’s messaging you all the time these days?’

‘It’s nothing, Rox,’ I muttered, flipping the device face down.

‘Can’t be nothing if it’s got you this riled up,’ she countered, her voice tight with disbelief. ‘And texting all night? I can hear the alerts echoing through the house, Angel.’

‘Roxy, drop it,’ I growled, my alpha defensive walls slamming shut.

Seconds later, I regretted the harsh tone as she arched a brow and stared at me with deep suspicion.