Page 193 of Unleashed

When I put my hands on her cheeks, Rhonda yanks her mouth from mine and shakes her head like a bobblehead in an earthquake. “No. Go, Greg.”

My hands fall from her, and I wipe my cheek with the heel of my right hand. “I don’t want to leave you like this.”

Rhonda narrows her eyes at me, balls her hands into fists, and clenches her teeth before spouting, “When did you fucking care? I’ve been in love with you for years!” I ruined her. I deserve her anger.

Feeling like she sucker-punched me, I sweep my hands through my hair, and my sob-soaked voice is hardly audible. “I’m sorry.”

Rhonda frowns, but doesn’t back down. “Why’d you have sex with me? You’re not drunk.”

I drop my hands and look at the bed where I fucked Rhonda to ease my ego. I bite my lip to hold back more sobs as I send my eyes to Rhonda’s. “Because I wanted to. It’s the truth.” Sort of.

She winces. “So I’ll suffer, remembering us doing it?”

“No... Shit. Maybe I wanted to because I’m so fucked up, and I don’t want you to leave.” Sort of.

She closes her eyes, and between catching her breath, she says, “Because you need a rebound. I won’t be that. I’m not the only one hurt. Jeez. I can’t imagine how... And now I betrayed a friend. Oh, God.” Rhonda turns away and covers her mouth like she might hurl.

I blink to clear my eyes, trying to find a semi-decent response. “I’m not dating Tansy.”

Rhonda spins from the window so fast that her hair whips her face. “I don’t give a fuck about her! She’s wrong for you, anyway! You know who I’m talking about! Like Val, I knew Hadley wasn’t your soulmate, but... Damn it.”

“I... I don’t know how I feel about anyone!”

She growls, “It’s so goddamn obvious! You glow around her. How blind are you? How stupid am I?”

“She’s fucking Rhodes! I don’t care about that damn bitch!” I spew, and it incinerates me. Rhonda cringes before sobbing more. “Whatever you think, I don’t regret you and me last night or now.” I swing my hand toward the bed but then shove my hand into my jeans pocket. Jesus Christ, this is killing me. “What do you want from me? Do you want to date me? Well, now you’re leaving, so I guess not.” But I still wouldn’t. I hate myself.

Her blonde eyebrows dive in the middle of her forehead. “Fuck you.”

The words I never thought I’d hear from Rhonda and my congested sigh draw more tears to my eyes. “Ronnie, I’m sorry. I just... Hell, I’ve never had a girlfriend. I can’t decide on our relationship right now.” A wife doesn’t count.

“I can.” She hides her eyes behind her hands and turns away from me. “Just go. Please.” She crosses her arms when I don’t move and yells, “Out, Greg! Now!”

The room blurs as I turn, open the door, and fly into the hallway.

“Greg, what happened?” Amos asks from the living room. Fucking stupendous. He heard everything. Every damn thing.

I avoid looking at him, but don’t pull down my sunglasses. With my watery eyes in the dark room, I’ll likely ram into Amos without additional help. Outside, I hear my name. Reaching the sidewalk, I shove the sunglasses onto my face and get into my car. A passing truck honks at me for almost walking in front of it, but whatever. They’d be doing me a favor.

Before I pull away from the curb, I slide my fingers beneath my sunglasses to wipe my eyes before shifting into drive and slamming on the gas. I don’t want to go to Amos’s now, even if he won’t be there for days. I just can’t go to the scene of last night’s life-changing events yet.

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