Page 61 of Awakening

I can’t believe what I’m hearing right now. “Here I am, trying to be honest so we can have a fresh start, and you accuse me of sleeping with Anthony?”

“Well, did you?”

“I didn’t even kiss him, so no, I didn’t sleep with him, Ethan.” Anger brews in my chest, and staring into his enraged eyes, I say, “But let me tell you something. If I’d wanted to, I could have.” I don’t know why I say that. That was a stupid thing to say, and I know it will only make things worse. It’s like I’m getting some kind of sick thrill out of knowing how incensed he is over the thought of me with another man.

He shakes his head and tightens his lips. “You’re playing with fire, woman.”

“Oh? What are you going to do?” The only sound in the room is our heavy breathing as our chests rise and fall.

“I’m really fucking tempted to carry you upstairs, throw you down on our bed and give you a good and thorough reminder of what it’s like to be mine.” My core throbs as he steps closer to me, his warm breath on my face. “I’d make it crystal clear who owns the heaven between those beautiful legs of yours.”

I’ve never wanted to dare someone to do something so badly in my entire life.

He shakes his head, looking away from me. “I need to get out of here for a while.” He grabs a pair of running shorts from a gym bag by the back door and starts to walk out toward the garage.

I turn after him, throwing my arms out. “Where are you going?”

“I need to get out. I’m going for a run. I’ll be back in a while. Do not leave this house. If you try to leave, there are guards right outside these doors now, and they’ve been instructed to show you back in.”

“What am I? Your fucking prisoner?”

He says nothing, and I’m left standing with my mouth open while he disappears into the garage, and the door slams behind him. Taking my phone out of my purse, I see that it’s 11:00, but I know Chloe is a night owl, so she’s probably still awake.

Olivia

He’s crazy.

Chloe

Oh, no. What happened?

Olivia

Can you call me?

My phone starts to ring and Chloe’s name flashes across the top of the screen. “Hey,” I answer.

“Tell me what happened,” she says.

I take her through the whole series of events from today, including committing to moving back in, wearing his ring, dinner with his parents, my dramatic escape, and Anthony trying to kiss me.

“I knew he’d be mad, but to accuse me of sleeping with Anthony?”

“Oh, shit,” she says with a sigh.

“You were there, Chloe. You know I didn’t sleep with him.”

“I know, Liv. I just wish you would have come to me instead of going back to Denver tonight. This whole thing probably could have been avoided.”

“Trust me, so do I. He’s so pissed, Chloe.”

“I’m sorry, sweetie. It sounds like you’ve had a truly terrible night. I’m really happy to hear that you’re moving back in and giving things a chance, though. Despite the bad night, I think this is a really good thing.” Leave it to Chloe to put a positive spin on this.

“The first part of the day was really good. I saw a photo of us when I was pregnant, and we looked so happy. I just realized I don’t want to throw something like that away if it can be saved, but now?—”

“Oh, that’s really sweet. You’ll get there, Liv. I know you will. You both just have to give yourselves time.”

“And, just to be clear, even when Anthony tried to kiss me tonight, I stopped him before it even really started.”

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