Page 180 of Unleashed

“Tell me about it.”

“Not for you.” His judgy frown almost convinces me to sleep in my car tonight.

“You don’t know the half of it, Vaughn.” My rough voice makes me clear my throat. “I need a shower and a drink.” I start to head upstairs, but Amos steps in front of me.

“Greg, we need to talk.”

I shake my head and pray he doesn’t notice my red, swollen eyes. I turn away from him and sort of march around. “I can’t. I’m tired.” I clench my teeth, fighting a damn breakdown. I did it before in front of Amos, but being sober this time is a whole new low.

“That’s no excuse. Why did you do that to Simone? You belong together.”

I squeeze my hands into fists and turn to face him. “She’s shit to me.” As soon as I say it, I lose my breath, hating I can’t keep it together in front of Amos of all creatures.

He shakes his head and jingles his loose change in his pockets. “That’s not true. You’ve driven yourself into this outrageous predicament. I love Simone. You won’t treat her like that, and if you refuse to comply, then you’ll have to find somewhere else to live.”

My mouth falls open. “I’ve known you longer, Amos. I’m your right hand, as gross as that is. Are you two besties now?”

“It doesn’t matter. She doesn’t deserve your insults or hostility.”

“That shit is a two-way street.” My frown deepens, and I nod toward the door. “Where’s Brandon? I didn’t see his car.” I peer into the living room, ready to take out Rhodes Senior because of his deadbeat grandson.

Amos frowns. “He may stop by later.” Our spineless leader couldn’t even spare the time? Vaughn looks up at the ceiling, almost rolling his eyes. He has said nothing negative about Brandon that I can remember. Rhodes probably found another paralegal to fuck. “I don’t understand why you’re fighting your feelings for Simone. Isn’t there an eighties ballad about that very subject?” I glare at the floor, in no mood. Not even REO Speedwagon could make me smile. “Simone has never stopped loving you, Greg.”

I shoot crazed red eyes to Amos. “You wanna know how much she loves me? Huh? Do you? She’s fucking Junior right this second.” Hot, angry, devastated tears flood my eyes, losing the battle. I huff and drive a hand into my hair as I look for something to punch. I might want to knock out Amos, but I’m not that stupid.

Oddly, Amos’s face pales. “Don’t make assumptions. In a courtroom, you’ll need evidence, hard facts, and a cogent argument to prove your case.”

Through my tears, I laugh like a hyena and wave my hands as I edge closer to losing my fucking mind. My exasperated whispers turn the foyer into a den of snakes. “I’m no lawyer in a damn courtroom! And assumptions? Right! He’s in her bedroom with the lights off! She told me she’s having sex with him tonight!” Fantastic. I can’t wait for Val to lower her expectations of me more than she already has. I rub my burning eyelids. “Please don’t make me stay for this meeting tonight.”

“I apologize, but your attendance is required. It’s more of a farewell gathering.”

I continue to rub my eyes as I laugh in disbelief. “You’re firing me? Great. Awesome. Well, today has been hell on earth.” I sigh as more fucking tears blind me.

“No. Rhonda is leaving. For good this time.”

I drop my hand. “What did you do to her? And don’t blame this one on me. I did nothing to Ronnie.”

“She’s taken another job.”

“Well, why isn’t Brandon throwing a party for her like he did for Shasta?”

Amos purses his lips. “Rhonda doesn’t want a party, but Brandon didn’t offer.”

“Fucking prick,” I mutter, wiping my eyes again.

“Nico was coming with his mother but had a last-minute work emergency.”

I slide my hands over my face, trying to get my shit together. Amos is an awkward elf watching another one of my breakdowns. “Give me a minute or sixty.”

Amos frowns but nods. “We’re in the dining room.”

I pick up my duffel bag and head up to the prison-gray guest room that’s been mine. There are two other bedrooms, like Amos has sleepovers.

Closing the door, I fling the bag. It punches the wall and knocks over a vase of fake lilies. The room is quiet, but I still hear muffled voices in the dining room. Sniffing, I drop to the end of the bed, lean forward, and bury my face in my hands.

I can’t go back downstairs, pretending everything is rainbows and kittens. I’ve lost Simone twice. Or is it three times now? Previously, she blindsided me with the pregnancy. Now, I’m grappling with the fear of her breaking me again and trusting myself to know if I ever loved Simone. I thought I was in love with Hadley, and look how that went. The joke is always on the joker. I want to know what love is, for fuck’s sake. God, I hate Foreigner.

I sit in the dark for some time, imagining Simone fucking Rhodes. What position? How many times? Did they give each other oral? Did either of them come? Did she fall in love with him? Do I care?

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