Page 51 of Deceitful Oath

It’s barely a whisper, but it stabs me in the gut and slices me into a million pieces. I play stupid, trying to save my wretched heart. “You have a meeting or something? We can do dinner later if you want.”

“No, darling, this,” he says, louder this time, opening his arms and looking down at me. The warmth of his embrace quickly fades, replaced by a chill, even though it’s a warm summer evening.

“Dominic, what are you saying?”

“I’m sorry, I can’t let myself get involved in anything serious right now,” he says, choosing his words carefully. “I have too much going on, and being in a relationship is not something I can handle.”

“Are you serious?” I whisper, forcing my tears back.I will not cry. I will not cry.

He looks down at me, pity painted across his face. “Yes. I know, I fucked up. I started this whole thing, but I didn’t think we would get this far.”

I stare at the floor, my bare feet turning to ice. He gently tips my chin up to meet his gaze. “I talked to your landlord; there’s still a few weeks before you can move back in so…I have another property on the other side of town. You should stay there.”

“No.”

“No?” he echoes, surprised. “Where are you going to go?”

“I don’t know,” I snap, my hurt shifting into anger to protect my fragile ego. “I’ll figure it out on my own.”

I stomp away into the bedroom and start throwing my stuff back in the duffle bag. He calls after me, following me to his room.

“I’m so sorry, Luxy,” he pleads, his eyes soft and hurt. “Just let me take care of you until you’re back on your feet.”

I sling my duffle over my shoulder and march up to him, stabbing my finger into his chest. “I survived before you came into my life, Dominic Wolf, and I’ll survive long after you’re gone.”

He stands, staring at my retreating form as I stumble down the hallway. Without a second glance, I shove my feet into my boots and get into the elevator. The doors shut as he opens his mouth, but it’s too late.

I break down, sinking to the floor, tears streaming down my face.

By the time the doors open on the ground floor, I’ve composed myself. I slip on the same pair of sunglasses I borrowed this morning and walk out into the sunshine, heading directly for the park. I find myself an empty bench and sit down to formulate a plan.

I will not think about him. I will not think about him. I will not think about him.

I scroll through my phone instead, gauging how likely everyone in my contacts list is to let me crash with them for a bit.

Lisa.

We’ve always had an easy friendship—not that we ever hung out outside of work. Hell, I don’t even know her last name, but she’d probably let me sleep on her couch tonight at least. I tap her name and type out a message.

>>Having a quarter-life crisis. Can I crash at your place tonight?

Chapter Nineteen

Rafael

“Fuck it,” I growl, flinging my blanket off and bolting out of bed.

I wander to the kitchen through the pitch-black hallway, flipping on a small light. When I pull open the fridge, I immediately regret it.

The dinner Lux cooked for me hours earlier sits untouched. I stare at the salmon fillets, cursing their existence. I curse my existence as well while I’m at it.I slam the door shut, deciding on alcohol instead.

Alcohol has never helped my insomnia problems, but maybe it’ll help the overthinking. I pour myself a double bourbon, toss in a couple of ice cubes, and slide onto a stool. Drumming my fingers on the countertop, I force myself not to think about Lux.

Of course, as soon as I start thinking about not thinking about Lux, I think about her.Goddamn it.

The range of emotions that played across her face when I ended it will haunt me forever. They play in my mind as if it’sa movie in a small-town one-screen cinema—over and over. The hurt, the shock, the confusion, and then the anger.

What did I expect, throwing her out, breaking her heart, just when she started to feel secure in this “relationship”?

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