Page 89 of Depraved Desires

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Monroe

“I already told you. I’m not signing those damn papers.” Caroline glared at me from across the table, her manicured fingernails tapping along the hardwood.

We’ve barely been in contact since I kicked her out of my apartment. I’d had divorce papers delivered to her, but then silence. Against my better judgement, I reached out to her and asked to meet. We’ve been at this for nearly two hours now.

“Just sign the papers, Caroline,” I gritted out in frustration. The sooner she signed, the sooner I could get her out of my life for good. There was no love lost between the two of us. She might have been a damn good actress, but it wasn’t possible for her to care about anyone other than herself.

I suspected she went back to live with her parents. She was dressed in designer clothing, her lips were plump from the injections she was addicted to that we could rarely ever afford, and her hair was now dyed platinum, making her golden eyes pop more.

“I don’t know why we can’t just work this out.” She shrugged, clearly not getting it. There was nothing more towork out. I’d played that game already.

“You slut shamed one of my students,” I deadpanned. “A student who has gone through hell and back. The fact that you don’t think there’s something wrong with that just proves how twisted you are.”

Her eyes widened into saucers, like I’d somehow become the bad guy here. Years ago, I might have believed it. She had a way about her that made you feel like you were in the wrong even when you weren’t. She was manipulative and conniving. Without her here, my mental health has drastically improved. I hadn’t even missed her presence once. The sex certainly wasn’t anything to brag about, and toward the end of our relationship, it was practically nonexistent.

“Sheisa slut,” she defended. “You didn’t see the way she looked at you when you weren’t looking. Like she was seconds away from ripping your clothes off.” She released a frustrated huff of air. “I’m sorry if I got a little…jealous.”

My eyebrows dipped in confusion. Nothing had transpired between me and Aspen since that day in the classroom. To my knowledge, she wasn’t even interested in me like that since getting what she wanted. Even if what Caroline said was true, it didn’t give her the right to verbally attack her the way she did.

I opened my mouth to say just that, but Caroline continued. “I’m sorry, Aiden.Truly. I messed up and I admit that. There’s nowhere else for me to go.” A pout tugged at the corners of her mouth as she stared into my soul, looking for a sliver of vulnerability within me.

“I thought you were staying with your parents,” I drawled.

She hesitated for a moment. “Iam, but they told me it would only be temporary. My father is ill, and I don’t know how much longer he has. He’s the only reason I’m allowed there now, andhis memory is starting to wane.” She reached across the table, taking my hand in hers. Everything inside of me wanted me to jerk it away, but the raw emotion on her face had me stilling.

I couldn’t let her stay with me forever. Even if I agreed to take her in, that would only be temporary, too. She needed to go back to college and get a real degree so that she could support herself. That, or find someone else to mooch off of. Even as those thoughts swarmed my mind, the idea of throwing her to the wolves to fend for herself, knowing she wasn’t prepared had my chest tightening. Maybe that made me a glutton for punishment.

Blowing out a breath, I leaned back in my seat. “Even if Iagreed,” I began reluctantly. “There would be rules.”

She nodded eagerly, hope shimmering within her eyes. “Anything.”

“Aspen is allowed to come and go as she pleases. That second bedroom is still hers. If I ever see you disrespect her again, I’ll throw you out for good.” I shot her a pointed look. “You’re no longer allowed to get drunk here. If you need your fix that badly, get a hotel room or crash somewhere else. I’ll be sleeping in Aspen’s room when she’s not here. If for some reason, she wants to crash here, I’ll take the couch, and lastly…you won’t have access to any funds. If you want something, ask. You ran me dry last time I gave you an ounce of trust.”

Caroline was quiet as she mulled over my words. The tension in her jaw was evident, but she nodded in agreement despite it. “I can do that.” Her hand tightened around mine as she squeezed, silently thanking me.

The door opening and closing caught my attention, drawing my gaze toward the sound. There were only two people I knew bold enough to waltz in here without knocking. Right as that thought bounced around my skull, Rocky emerged, his eyes widening a fraction when he saw Caroline seated across from me.

“Is this a bad time?” he queried, arching an eyebrow. His backpack hung loosely around his shoulders as he took in the scene before him.

“No.” I turned back to Caroline. “Go get your shit.”

A relieved breath whooshed out of her, and she rose with a nod. “You won’t regret this.” I seriously doubted that, but what’s done was done.

I waited for her to exit my house before standing and moving into the living room. I dropped down on the couch, my head spinning from what just occurred. If she thought this was a way for her to weasel her way back into my life and get me to take her back, she’d been sorely mistaken.

Rocky shrugged off his bag, planting it by the couch before taking the spot next to me. “What was that about?” he asked.

“Nothing. Did you need something?”

I’d already told him about Aspen showing up here with Collin in tow. He’d been as furious as I had. It still didn’t make sense to me why she’d chosen to leave with him. At least she was safe…for now.

He reached into his bag and retrieved a small bottle of what appeared to be pills. “Aspen asked for these. Figured you could give them to her when she decided to make another appearance.” She had only left with one outfit. She’d be back in no time to collect more clothes. I took the bottle from him, not bothering to hide my skepticism.

“Did she say what they were for?”

He shook his head. “Nope. It’s probably better that we don’t know.”

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