Page 108 of Valentine’s Billionaire Auction

“It’s nothing,” she said quickly. Too quickly. “Let’s just focus on you right now.”

“No,” I said, sitting up straighter. I knew my friend well enough to know when something was wrong. She was definitely off. “What is it? Please, Carla, tell me.”

Another pause. “I didn’t want to do this over the phone, but… I feel like you’ve abandoned me, Kaira.”

Her words hit me like a slap. “What?”

“Just forget it. What’s up?”

“Carla, wait. What is going on? I called you…”

I realized before today, it had been a few days. I hadn’t texted like normal. The last week I had been caught up with my book and Roman.

“Whatever, Kaira. It’s fine. I know you’ve got shit to do. What’s wrong? What did Roman do now?”

She wasn’t asking because she cared. More like she was obligated to do so.

“Carla, please,” I said. “I’m sorry. I thought we worked through this already. With you working and me here, it’s hard to connect.”

“You never call me anymore,” she said, her voice trembling with restrained emotion. “You didn’t even invite me to Roman’s birthday party.”

I cringed. “I didn’t think you would be comfortable. It was all his friends.”

“I’m your friend,” she said. “I didn’t think I had to remind you of that.”

“Carla, no! I love you. You are my friend.”

“I have to reach out to you just to get a response, and even then, it takes forever for you to reply. And when you do call, it’s always about your problems or your life. It’s like I’m just here when it’s convenient.”

“No, Carla, that’s not true,” I protested, my chest tightening with guilt. “I didn’t mean to make you feel that way.”

“That’s what you said the last time I brought this up,” she said quietly. “But nothing changed.”

I felt like the air had been knocked out of me. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered. “I never wanted to hurt you. You’re my best friend.”

“I know you didn’t mean to, Kaira. But it still hurts. And it hurts even more having to point it out instead of you realizing it on your own. Twice. Not once, but twice. How would you feel if the roles were reversed?”

I swallowed hard, tears streaming down my face again. “I’ll do better, Carla. I promise.”

She sighed again. “What happened with you and Roman?”

I didn’t even want to tell her. She didn’t really want to hear it. I didn’t blame her. The last few weeks had been all about me and my drama. And then when things started going really well, I abandoned her.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I shouldn’t have called. I’m, well, I might be staying at the condo.”

“What happened?”

“I don’t want to dump on you.”

“Kaira, just tell me,” she said.

“I went into a room I wasn’t supposed to and it was really bad. I think it’s better for me to leave.”

She was quiet for a minute. “I hope you and Roman make up. I really do. But… I think I need some space right now.”

The line went dead before I could respond. I stared at my phone, the screen blurring through my tears. The loneliness that enveloped me was suffocating. For the first time in a long time, I felt completely untethered, like I was drifting alone in the dark.

I couldn’t stay in the mansion. It was clear Carla didn’t want me at my own condo. I was abandoned. I had only myself to blame.