Page 44 of Devotion

His eyes narrow in suspicion. “You’re deflecting.”

“I’m so sick of this.” Gripping my hair, I take a few steps to cool myself down.

“You still haven’t explained what I walked in on, Layla.”

With my back to Martinez, I stare at the parking space Damien pulled out of a moment ago, wishing I’d had the courage to accept his offer. Wishing I’d had the courage to hop onto the back of his bike and ride off with him to escape this conversation.

“I just met him tonight,” I answer with a huff. The response is partly true. Tonightwasour first face-to-face meeting.

“And what happened? You gave him your contact info?”

I roll my eyes, feeling grateful he can only see me from behind.

“No.”

“But youarecool with a perfect stranger groping you because you’re pissed I was late, right?”

He almost had me. I almost felt guilty. But thanks to his unrelenting asshole-ery, I’m quickly freed from that burden.

When I turn to face him, there’s this self-righteous look in his eyes that makes me want to rip them out of his skull.

“Spin this however you want to, but at the end of the day… I’m not your girl, Diego. And whether intentionally or by accident, you show me the truth in that almost daily. It almost seems like you go out of your way to prove I’m your lowest priority.”

“And that’s all on me?” He takes a step back, and his eyes flicker with anger again. “You’re a fucking ice queen, Layla. You talk all this shit about me, how little I put into this, but you’re cold, you’re distant. So, when the fuck are you going to admit that you’re just as disconnected as you accusemeof being?”

I draw in a breath, not just listening to what he’s said, but actuallyhearinghim. My eyes meet his again, and I can’t even argue with him.

“I don’t disagree that we have some work to do,” he admits. “But what I saw tonight… that shit cuts deep. I thought we were better than this. Thoughtyouwere better than this, better than having a damn temper tantrum because I was late.”

“It wasn’t a temper tantrum.”

“Then, what the hell wouldyoucall it?”

“I’d call itmebeing the one not giving a damn for a change,” I blurt out, holding his gaze as my feelings come into alignment. “Usually, I’m the one sitting back, getting whatever scraps you decide to throw my way, getting what’s left of you, and tonight I just decided that’s not good enough anymore.”

The rims of Martinez’s nostrils flare, and I don’t blink, focused on how his expression morphs from angry to downright wicked.

“So, you’re admitting it? There’s something going on between you and that piece of shit?”

Realizing he’s missed about ninety percent of my point, I take a step away. But when he lunges for my arm again, I’m anticipating it, and manage to pull out of his grasp far more quickly than before. I stare at him, confused by what he thinks getting physical could possibly accomplish. But as things feel as though they’re shifting from bad to worse, I can’t shake the feeling that I need to get out of here.

Fast.

Much to my relief, my ride pulls off, and I rush toward the car, wanting nothing more than to be safe at home. And most of all, away from Martinez.

“I should’ve dropped your ass months ago, you fucking cunt!” he shouts, drawing an ocean of unwanted attention as I pick up speed. “So, thank you, Layla. Thanks so much for wasting my fucking time. See you at work Monday, bitch.”

By the time I reach the car door, I’m a shaking, crying mess. The sound of people whispering and laughing as they watch things unfold doesn’t help. I climb in, and I’m incredibly relieved to escape the fiasco, but I can’t help but to take it all in, wondering what the fuck just happened.

I’ve never been more angry, more frustrated, but… I’m alsosofucking relieved. Just to say that it’s finally over, that my undefined connection to Martinez has been severed.

And despite the drama that came along with tonight, this is only a good thing. I’m grateful I was able to find the courage to make the separation final, but deep down, I know this was due in part to a little push. One that came from a very unlikely direction.

An unlikelysource.

Damien.

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