Page 145 of Unleashed

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I look over at the bed where Simone is asleep. Eden can’t be talking about Simone. My sister has zero idea what I’ve been through.

Dear troll munch,

Oh, yeah. I remember Romy. When I was eleven, she showered at our house once, and I walked in on her. You’re right. Her tits were out of this world. I went back to my room and discovered jizz for the first time. I stayed there all day, getting acquainted.

I don’t know what to say about not listening to your stale advice. Maybe you should back the hell off. I fuck up. It’s my MO. I’ll fall in love for real. Someday. Maybe. Probably not.

I thought I was in love twice now. I can’t strike out a third time. It’ll be a fucking long minute before I utter those words again. So, please spare me. You never were in love, so you know nothing about if I stepped into a big pile of it. I’m sorry, but you don’t.

Yes, I believe true love exists. It’s out there, but I haven’t found it. Simone is not the one. All we do is hurt each other. I just don’t know how to let go.

Greg

I LEFT FOR WORK IN the morning before Simone woke up, and I missed her father in the kitchen when I slipped out the front door. I didn’t want him to see me since I dress up to work in an office, not a gas station. But I was prepared to tell him I was heading to a coworker’s funeral. It’s a good thing her father hasn’t asked about the requirements to be on our softball team. Juggling lies is so fucking confusing.

I see Tansy’s text at work, asking me to go axe-throwing. What the fuck is that? It sounds intriguing and maybe something I can use on Betsy.

“Is that Simone?”

I glance at Hadley across the table. “No. Why?”

“Because she’s your wife.”

I sigh as I set down my phone and toss my candy bar back into the paper bag. “She’s not. Can we stop doing this now? We’re only playing house for her father. We’re not getting engaged next week.”

Rhonda says, “But you were really married to her. Do you think this will lead to getting back together?”

I turn to face Rhonda. “When did you get here?”

Hadley gasps, “Rod, be nice!”

I pat Rhonda’s shoulder. “Just kidding, Ronnie. You and I are still pals.” I glare at Hadley. “Some of you are cruising.”

“Thanks a lot.”

I cross my arms as I look around the cafeteria. “Ronnie, Simone, and I are...complicated. We had a marriage deal. She decided she didn’t need it. I decided she did. Now, we’re in this tug-of-war shit-uation that won’t end until her father leaves or when one of us falls on our ass first.”

Hadley rolls her eyes. “And when you do, someone is going to get hurt.”

I narrow my eyes. “We’re fine, Hadley. This is temporary. We know what we’re doing.” Not a clue.

Rhonda says, “I like how you’re helping her.”

Hadley scoops pink yogurt out of its container. “Helping isn’t the word I’d use.”

“Nothing is going on. We barely talk, and when we do, we argue about stupid shit.”

Setting down her yogurt, Hadley takes a deep breath and puts her hands on the table. “Okay, I’ll say it, Rod. I think you fell in love with Simone, but you’re fighting it. My brother went through something similar with Kat.”

I huff a laugh that isn’t the ha-ha kind. “You’re comparing me to your fucking brother, who blamed you for his best friend’s death? Are you high?”

She frowns and I know I’m nailing a nerve. “I’m just saying...”

“No. I’m not like Jared Beckett. At all. He’s a lowlife after what he said to you. I was there, Hadley.”

“I’m not talking about him as my brother, but as someone who resisted falling in love and almost lost Kat. I’m afraid that’ll happen to you and Simone.”

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