Page 79 of Bad Boy Neighbor

“Bianca said you were comfortable, but this elevator is something.” Krystal hiccups, again. She latches onto my arm for support. “You’re really pretty, Olly.”

“Pretty?” I snort. “You need coffee. Lots of it.”

“Coffee?” She giggles, leaning her head onto my shoulder. “And you smell nice.”

The door opens wide, and upon stepping out, a shadow distracts me.

The mane of curly copper hair catches my attention.

It can’t be her.

You’ve done this a million times—think you’ve seen her.

I dare not move. I can’t even breathe, frozen to the spot. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest, it’s loud and disrupting. The hairs on my arms stand to attention as a militia of chills marches down my spine.

This is just my imagination.

The beating becomes louder and louder, it’s intolerable, and my breaths are deeper and deeper by the second. The air around me is incredibly thick, almost choking.

“Oliver…”

This isn’t happening, not now. Gabriella’s eyes are boring into me, speckles of hazel though darker than I remember. They’ve already clawed into my skin, a parasite quick at work ready to demolish everything I’ve worked so hard to build over the last eleven months.

I’m unable to respond, shocked to see her gaunt figure. Her cheekbones are more prominent, embedded into her pale face. Dark circles surround her eyes. They shadow the normally exuberant orbs which reflect back every time I look into her beautiful face.

Overall, she appears thinner, and her arms are skinny in the sleeveless white blouse she’s wearing. She looks terrible, almost sick.

Is she sick?

Fuck. The panic and wild thoughts consume me.

“What are you doing here?”

“I want to talk to you.” Her expression dulls as her gaze shifts to Krystal. “But you’re busy… I see.”

Krystal stumbles forward, sticking out her hand and introducing herself. “Olly and I were about to grab a nightcap.”

Gabriella fumbles with her purse, bowing her head and unable to maintain eye contact with me. “Listen, this was a mistake. Goodbye, Krystal, enjoy your nightcap.”

She repeatedly presses the elevator button as I quietly suggest Krystal go inside my apartment and wait there.

The anger inside me swirls like a tornado in waiting, ready to unleash without a thought of the consequence. Seeing her again has resurfaced the memories of the pain and humiliation she’s put me through. It burned so badly through every inch of me, like fire lacing my veins, fast and apathetic to the pain it’s causing. I’m riddled by emotions, the unwanted build-up residing in my stomach waiting to be spat out of my mouth in hurtful words.

“What the hell are you doing here? In case you haven’t noticed, I haven’t wanted to talk to you for the past eleven months, and that hasn’t changed.”

Push her away.

Don’t let her crawl in.

Not now, not ever.

“I understand. I just wanted to apologize?—”

“You understand?” I raise my voice, a sinister laugh escaping my lips. “It’s a bit too late for apologies. I think it’s best you leave. Besides, I’ve got someone here, and she’s waiting.”

It’s the thousand knives stabbing straight into her heart I get some satisfaction from.

Payback for what she did to me.

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