Page 82 of Unleashed

I stop to see Blondie walking closer to my apartment, smiling. I smile back and shake my head.

“So, that’s a no?” His warm smile doesn’t falter, and I smile.

“I’m Simone Simpson. You were in my Principles of Behavior, right?”

“Trent Hodges. Science of Emotion, a row behind you.”

I nod. “Yeah, I remember now. Are you graduating this semester?”

He laughs. “Yeah. You ready?”

“Yes.” I roll my eyes. “And no.”

“I totally get it.” His friend, still standing in the same spot, is checking his phone. Trent glances back at him and then shrugs at me. “I, uh, just wanted to officially meet you since we were classmates and now neighbors.” His bright blue eyes match my nail polish. His hair is wavy and curls near his ears. The light facial hair on his face gives him a rugged look to balance his brainy vibe. He nods at my dress. “You look nice.”

“Thank you. I went dancing with my friends.”

Seeing movement from the corner of my eye, I see my father looking out the window, not trying to hide that he’s watching me. I can’t believe I’m dealing with this shit.

And then I remember Greg will be back. Maybe. Unless he’s staying at Trashy’s.

I swallow and push loose hair off my cheek and a rueful smile onto my face. “I think my visiting father is waiting for me.” I roll my eyes and stick out my tongue. Trent laughs, and it kind of brightens my mood.

“Okay. Well, maybe we can grab a bite after graduation if you have nothing planned immediately afterward.”

I smile, stepping toward my apartment. “Sure. Sounds fun.” A root canal would be fun for me at the moment.

I watch Trent return to his roommate, and he waves at me again, so I do the same. He seemed nice, but so did Tanner. That asshole still burns me.

Before opening the front door, shivering, Greg with Trashy attacks my thoughts. No matter what he wants to convince me of, he’d be nervous and unsure how to start. She’ll get impatient and grab his ass, but he’ll resist, thinking of his past assault and of...me. Still, he’d work his dick into her ungrateful, Cookie Monster-looking cunt. While she bucks against him, he’ll be more hesitant with his thrusts. She’ll seek to orgasm on his cock, and he’ll panic that he’s not doing it right. He never had to worry about me because I loved everything we did together.

Hot tears scorch my eyes. He gave his emotional virginity to me. Now, he’s off fucking that girl like I never mattered. Yeah, I broke up with him, but it killed me because I loved Greg. My heart and soul are now a wasteland.

I wipe my cheek and check my hand. I hope my waterproof mascara hasn’t failed me. I push open the door. From the entryway, I hear dishes clacking together in the kitchen like he’s been busy this whole time. What a fucker.

“Simone? Is that you?”

I sigh and sniff the last of my tears. “Yeah, Dad.”

Before he sees me, I remove my heels, leaving them in the coat closet, but grab my purse and head upstairs. As I reach my bedroom, he says, “You weren’t gone long. Where’s Greg?”

I shake my head at my bedroom door. “He took one of our friends home. He may stay there.”

“Simone, I want to speak to you about this situation.”

“Tomorrow.”

Holding my phone, I go into my room, shut the door, and lean against it. My tears are a mix of anger and sorrow. Frustrated, I bury my face in my hands. I miss Durham, of all God-forsaken places. I miss being in love and showing each other. But it’s not any of those things I miss by themselves.

I creep because I have no reason to rush. I can only dodge my dad for so long, but I can’t handle him tonight.

Sighing, I go to my dresser to remove my earrings. As I pull the second one off and let it fall with a metallic rattle against the other, I stare at myself in the mirror until my reflection blurs. I wipe the tears but won’t sob when my father can hear me. I don’t want to cry when I can hear myself.

Still, with every tear I wipe, another one falls. I refuse to be fucking weepy. And it’s not like I can talk to anyone about it. Not Hadley. Although she loves me, she’s in the middle of her SIL and BFF. Not Finn, because he’ll beat the shit out of Greg if I tell him what happened. My BFF, Sharla, would never understand since she’s happy, engaged to Teddy. When we talk anymore, it’s about her upcoming wedding, where I’m Bridesmaid Number Four. If I never attend another damn wedding after that again, I’ll be fucking elated. Though, it’ll shred me to hear about Greg remarrying. I’m so screwed.

Removing my phone from my purse, I notice the quaint message from Coach Wilder proclaiming softball practice for tomorrow afternoon. Be there. Who the hell does this jackass think he is, disrupting our Monday off?

I send him a response, telling him I already made plans, so take his bossy shit elsewhere because I’m not impressed or his slave. I don’t receive a response, which means Hadley probably made it home, and he’s fucking her in the shower since he can’t function one day without her reassuring his co-dependent cock. It’s true. I’ve heard and seen them fucking on different occasions. I’m sure he loves sucking her tit while she rides him. Hadley serves as his pacifier or warm bottle when she’s lactating. That pretty much sums up Finnigan Wilder’s mommy issues.

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