Page 38 of Breakaway

Tapping my fingers on the steering wheel, I exhale loudly. “Maybe on Sunday?”

“Deal.” His face lights up with a smile. “Send me your new address, and I’ll come pick you up.”

“No need. Let’s just meet at Discovery Park at two p.m., if that’s okay with you?”

“Sure.” Travis leans over and kisses me on the cheek. “See you, Nev. Looking forward to Sunday.”

“Bye.” I wave curtly, watching him step away from my car. My hands feel clammy, and nausea forms in the pit of my stomach. I broke up with him so he could move on and forget about me, and meeting him for a walk in the park definitely won’t help.

I fucked up.

I park my car,slowly get out, and take the bouquet from the passenger seat. The smell of roses is strong and pleasant, and I hide my nose in velvety petals. I hope Roman won’t notice me bringing home flowers again. I don’t want him lecturing me. Especially since I know he’s right. I just…couldn’t bring myself to throw the bouquet away. It’s too beautiful.

I stroll toward the apartment building, holding the roses close to my chest. Despite not getting enough sleep, I feel good. I managed to get ahead of the new article I’m working on, and I also made good progress on next month’s issue after I got approval from my boss, Kai. It was a good day, and I hope my evening will be good too.

Loud laughter comes from my left, and with my peripheral vision, I notice two people heading to the front door too. I turn my head, and my eyes zero in on Roman with a tall brunette. Her painted red lips wear a seductive grin, and she bats her eyelashes at him, touching his arm affectionately. He’s carrying two grocery bags and nodding his head at whatever she’s telling him. I lower my gaze down her body, scowling at the deep neckline of her dress. I swear her breasts look like they are ready to pop out. A gnawing feeling forms in my chest, and my jawticks. My fingers start to tremble, and I tighten my grip on the bouquet, hissing the second a sharp thorn pricks my skin.

Jealousy doesn’t look good on you, Nevaeh.

“Shut up,” I scold myself.

I’m too far away for them to hear me, but Roman looks up, and our gazes lock. Just for a moment, because he drops his eyes to the bouquet in my hands. He smirks, shaking his head in disbelief.

Screw him. He has no right to judge me.

Rushing forward, I line up with Roman and his girl and enter the building without a glance in their direction. The door closes behind me with a bang, and I take the stairs, leaping two at a time. The clicking sound of my heels thunders through the space, but I don’t pay any attention to the ruckus. All I want is to be alone, as far from this infuriating man as humanly possible.

Not even his delicious food will lure me out of my room.

I sit up in bed,looking around frenziedly. The darkness in my bedroom doesn’t leave any doubt that it’s still night. Reaching over to my nightstand, I snatch my phone and check the time. Three a.m. Almost the same time I woke up last night.

My chest rises and falls with my erratic breathing. I know why I’m awake. Just like yesterday, his sobs disturbed my sleep, twisting my gut into a tight knot. I lift my blanket, ready to climb out of bed, but memories of Roman with the brunette, and him coming home thirty minutes after I did flood my mind, keeping me rooted in place.

Plopping down on my back, I cover my head with another pillow to muffle the sounds. The room becomes silent, and I close my eyes.

His nightmares aren’t my problem.

1 ????, ???, ??????????. — Maks, please, don’t.

2 ??????????… — Please…

Chapter 16

Please…Stay

ROMAN

“Didn’t expectyou to be up.”

I slowly turn my head and see Nevaeh. She stands beside the couch, dressed in light blue jeans and a white tee with the word “Censored” across the chest. Her hair swims down her shoulders, and two little braids frame her face, with makeup only slightly accentuating her eyes.

“Roman?” she says, lowering her head to meet my gaze.

I cover my mouth with my palm to hide my yawn. My mind is all foggy, my thoughts swirling and scrambling at breakneck pace, not letting me focus on anything. My headache is pounding in my temples.

“What time is it?” I ask hoarsely.

“Eight thirty.” Nevaeh frowns, studying me with her eyes narrowed. Grabbing my chin between her fingers, she tilts my face toward her. “What time did you wake up?”

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