Page 92 of Lovers Fate

He turns in his seat, the rich leather groaning as he faces me. “She’s not my girlfriend, Athena.”

Guilt worms its way at the thought of me being the other woman. She has every right to hate me. She had him first and I’m not sure what kind of relationship they have with each other.

“Do you sleep with her?”

Maybe his definition of girlfriend is different, but sex is sex. I dance at a strip club. It’s not like I sing for the choir.I’ve accepted that guys look at me and expect one thing, no attachments. No complaints. It’s when they want something by force that I have a problem with.

What this is between us I can’t explain but I know that I can’t compete with someone who knows him more than I do. Has shared their life with each other while I’m flawed. I have nothing to offer except a record and a history of mental health I can’t even explain.

He glances at the lake. The silence hanging in the hair like a bad decision. Of course he does. I couldn’t be part of his circle because that would always be there. She would always be there.

“Could you take me back please. It’s getting late and I just remembered I have something I need to do.”

“But I haven’t said what I need to say.”

“Then say it,” I snap.

“I want to apologize for the things I’ve said.”

“Okay, you’re sorry. Anything else?”

His jaw is tight as he grips the steering wheel with one hand and places the car in reverse. “No.”

THIRTY

“Someone left this for you.”Simon says pushing his glasses up.

I look on the counter and see a red envelope with a wax seal stamped on the back. After Draco left me at the club last night, I walked around the club waiting until Rose was done so she can take me home. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with anyone. I was upset. Mad.

“Who’s it from?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. When I went on break and came back, it was there.”

I turn the envelope over and rub my finger on the wax with the letter H. I open it and pull a simple white card along with another VIP ticket to the Circle of Freaks. Flipping the card over there is simple message written in bold letters.

NOT SINCE YOU

Sliding the card and ticket back in the envelope I place it my bag not knowing what or how I should feel.

“Is everything alright?”

I smile. “Yeah, I’m ready to check out.” He hands me the receipt. I look at the bill and frown. “Wait. You didn’t charge me for two nights.”

“I did,” he says without looking up. His nose stuck in another book.

“You didn’t have to do that.” He paid for my last two nights when I told him I found a place and was waiting for the utilities to be turned on.

He flips the page. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Thank you, Simon.”

“Don’t forget to give me a Yelp review.”

“Yeah, and don’t forget not to take anyone’s shit or I’ll have to come back and fuck them up.”

He snorts.

When I get to the apartment after ordering a ride, I get to work cleaning. It didn’t look this bad the other night. But during the day, the place needed elbow grease to get the bathroom, kitchen, and floor as clean as it could be. The walls were another matter entirely. They had black fingerprints, scuffs, and yellow stains from someone who used to smoke inside. I don’t stop until the smell of pine lingers in the air. It was the strongest I could find.

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