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“Hey, neighbor,” Ash mocks, but I refuse to answer, letting my hate-filled eyes do the talking.
We walk in and I steal a glimpse at Lilah, but she looks right past me, as if I’m no longer there. Her trembling jaw is the only visible evidence of pain.
Brittany and I stand at the back of the elevator. She doesn’t ask any questions, oblivious to our exchange.
We travel the rest of the way in stark silence. He grasps her hand and they walk out first. Anger surges through me at seeing his vile hand on her, so I wrap an arm around Brittany, following them.
Lilah hands Ash the keys and while he opens the door, she casts a quick look my way. Her face is fraught with anger and pain. The agony in it claws at my insides and crawls up my veins entwining with my own brokenness.
I want to take her away, to forget where we are and who we’re with, but I can’t. I turn away and open my door as she enters hers.
Brittany loops her arms around me, “Take me to bed,” she says, her voice thick with lust. I look at the direction of Lilah’s apartment and the guilt eats at me, but I have nothing to be ashamed about. She’s in there with him.
I lead Brittany to my bedroom and push her down onto the bed. She caresses my comforter against her palms. “Mmm, this is a nice, large bed you have here.” I lean over, pressing my body on top of hers, needing her to shut up. I don’t want to be reminded of whom I’m with.
I kiss the column of her neck while she unbuttons my jeans. Closing my eyes, I imagine it’s Lilah’s breasts I kneed in my hands, her nipples I twist, her moans I hear, and her hand stroking my cock.
But once I lift my head away from Brittany’s body and look in her eyes, my heart shrivels up taking my dick with it. Every piece of me belongs to another whether she wants it or not.
Brittany glances up. Her brows dip into a confused frown. “What’s wrong?”
Pressing my fingers into my eyes, I stand. “Look, I’m sorry but I can’t do this. Let me call you a car.”
She jumps off the bed, grabbing her shirt and bra. “Are you fucking kidding me? You asshole! I don’t need your fucking car. I can get my own!” She swiftly gets dressed and huffs out of my bedroom. The entry door slams shut as she leaves. I fall back on the bed, hoping sleep can swallow me into oblivion.
* * *
LILAH
I need to get myself together before Ash realizes I’m upset. Heartbroken is more like it. I scrub at my face in the bathroom mirror, wiping away tears, as if that’ll erase the horror I saw in the elevator.
I can’t believe Damian moved on already. Who the hell is she? I want to know every detail and at the same time I don’t want to hear a word. My heart is raw, its protective layer ripped apart as it bleeds for what could’ve been.
I know we were never a couple, but it still hurts so much. Seeing him with another, picturing them together feels as though I’m suffocating on the rancid taste of something spoiled. My stomach contracts violently but I force the bile down.
Taking a few deep breaths, I twist the brass knob and open the door. Ash stands against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, the anger radiating from his skin.
“Took you long enough,” he spits out, stalking toward me, his face cold and rigid. I recoil inward, wishing I was invisible. But I can’t just disappear. There’s nowhere I could go where he won’t find me. I back away. He moves forward, grabbing my chin, his fingers like sharp blades digging into my flesh.
He eyes me, his nostrils twitching angrily. “So, tell me, have you been speaking to your neighbor about us?”
“What?” My pulse beats wildly. “Which neighbor?”
His free palm lands hard across my face. The sharp pain explodes up my cheek. Hot tears rise up and I want to swallow them back, not show my weakness, but it’s too late. They drizzle down, leaving a cold path in their wake.
“I hate when you act stupid. Are you stupid, Lilah? Of course you are, why do I even bother asking.” The cruel words chip away at my dignity, or whatever’s left of it, leaving me naked. “You know which one. Stop playing games with me.” He pinches my chin tighter until it burns.
“You mean, Damian?” My voice crumbles and I don’t recognize it.
“See, you knew who I was talking about. If you stopped pretending to be an idiot we could’ve avoided all this.”
“I’m sorry. Please, you’re hurting me.”
“I don’t give a fuck, you stupid bitch. If I find out you’ve been telling anyone about us, let’s just say it won't be good for you. Do you understand me?”
I nod. “I haven’t said anything to anyone. I promise.” My skin prickles with fear.I can’t go through this again.
He caresses my chin, and then let’s go. “Good girl. Come on, let’s go to bed.”
