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And my stomach dipped.
How had I been so blind?
Why hadn’t I just kept Albin at a distance as I planned?
I had no idea how long I stood there, waiting for a glimpse of Albin in the window. All I knew was that when a couple brushed past me, holding hands and giggling, the emotion churning in the pit of my stomach grew worse. In a daze, I walked away from Albin’s apartment and in the general direction of the bus. Tears burned the back of my eyes, but I blinked them back and curled my hands into fists.
I had no one to blame but myself.
Because I had known better and rather than taking the necessary precautions to protect myself, and my heart, I’d let my emotion get the better of me. Again and again, I kept replaying everything that had transpired between Albin and me until I was standing at the bus stop, alone and cold.
The ache in my heart only grew when I saw the bus.
Once I got in, I sunk into the seat closest to the door and buried my face in my hands. It took every ounce of power I had to sit there and not give in to the tears. By the time the bus pulled up down the street from Anne’s, I was already exhausted. I trudged up to Anne’s house and lingered in the doorway. With a sniff, I ran a hand over my face and fumbled with the keys. When I stepped in, it was dark, and I couldn’t see more than two feet ahead of me.
A small light came on, momentarily blinding me.
Spots danced in my field of vision, and Anne’s face appeared, leading me toward the couch. She helped me sit down before disappearing. When she returned with a glass of water, my vision had returned to normal. I took one look at her face and burst into tears, everything pouring out of me all at once.
Anne’s arms came up around me, and she drew me to her. “Mar, what happened?”
I clung to her and bawled. “It’s not going to be okay. I’m an idiot. I shouldn’t have trusted Albin. I knew he couldn’t be trusted.”
Anne stirred and drew back to look at me. “Do you want to talk about it?”
I shuddered, and my shoulders shook. “I went to the company, and I…he…”
Anne waited patiently for me to gather myself. Then she handed me a box of tissues. I blew my nose, and released a deep breath. “I went to the company to tell him about what happened and how to reach me, but he wasn’t there.”
Anne motioned for me to continue.
“He was in the bar across the street,” I continued in a strange voice. Slowly, I slumped back against the couch and stared at the ceiling. “He was drunk when he came out, and I was about to help him, but then I saw her.”
“Her?”
I lowered my head and looked over at Anne. “She was this gorgeous brunette. You should’ve seen her, Anne. She looks like the kind of woman Albin should be with, you know. Stylish and gorgeous, without trying.”
“Babe, I’m sure there was nothing happening—”
“I followed them,” I interrupted in a thick voice. “I know I shouldn’t have, but I had to know the truth, and I would’ve wondered if I hadn’t.”
Anne’s face grew solemn. “What happened? Did they see you?”
I shook my head and reached for another tissue. “She took him back to his apartment, and she went upstairs with him.”
Anne’s eyes tightened around the edges. “I can’t believe he would do that to you. After begging for a chance to be together. I don’t understand.”
I shrugged and sunk back against the couch. “Me neither, but I’m glad I know the truth now, so I don’t waste any more time on him.”
Anne exhaled. “What are you going to do?”
“Albin is still Jimmy’s father, but that’s all he will be from now on.”
Chapter 24
Albin
I staggered forward and nearly ran headfirst into the window. At the last second, I was yanked back by the scruff of my neck. With a frown, I wheeled around and squinted. Spots danced in my field of vision, and the vague silhouette before me shifted in and out of focus.
