Page 36 of The Passion

“I need to get home before the city wakes fully and get ready for the day. Like you, I can’t afford to have another day off.” Looking at my watch, I see it’s already close to seven am, and normally I would almost be in my office by now. Harper is down in the garage in her sister’s car waiting to take me to her place toshower and then head into work. I don’t know where I would be without her.

Standing, I start toward the elevator.

“Felisha.” My name on his lips is full of pain as he walks behind me.

Turning toward him, he takes me into his arms and draws me into a kiss that I was expecting to be hot and heated but instead is full of emotion and longing. This shouldn’t be so hard. Two days ago, I could believe I hated him, and now, I’m standing here not wanting to let go.

As we start pulling back for air and I look into his sorrowful eyes, I feel something brushing against my ankles and drop my head to see the white ball of fluff from earlier this morning. Reaching down to pick her up, she snuggles straight into my arms, purring away as I stroke her.

“Seriously,” Flynn grumbles.

“Here you go, go back to your dad.” But as I go to hand her over, she hisses and jumps to the ground and runs away.

“Typical, even the pussy I can’t get rid of doesn’t want me either.”

“Oh, Flynn.” I start to giggle, slapping him on the arm. “So, the nickname the Pussy Whisperer is bullshit on all fronts, I see.”

“Harsh.” He is half smiling as I step into the elevator.

And as I leave my heart on his floor in front of him, raising my hand to wave, I say all I can to him.

“Thank you… Goodbye.” I try to hold back the tears that are building.

“For now,” he replies as the doors close in front of me.

“Please don’t make this harder than it already is,” I say out loud and hope the universe is listening.

Chapter Eight

5 Months Later

FLYNN

I’m lying in bed, with my phone in my hand, ready to send a message to Felisha. I can’t believe it’s been five months since that last night we spent together.

So much has happened since then, and tomorrow, we are about to fly out to Australia for Nic and Tori’s wedding. I’m thankful it’s almost over because they have both been driving us all crazy in the office. Thankfully, the scandal of my and Felisha’s sex video came and went quickly. Yes, occasionally it still gets brought up, but not often enough to care.

It’s been hard to see her from across a room and not talk to her or even give her a hug and a polite kiss on the cheek. Instead, we share stolen moments with our eyes that say everything we wish we could say in another lifetime. I hate it, but it’s how she wants it, and I have to respect that.

But the one thing I have loved is the text messaging that started after that night. Because apparently, that’s what friends do who can’t see each other, like they are in different countries or far away from each other. Except we live in the same city, but the wall between us is like we may as well be in different continents.

And like true friends, we laugh and at times have gotten quite deep and shared more than I’ve shared with anyone else, but my God, we also argue fiercely in these messages, and occasionally, there have been very heated phone calls when she is so mad at me that she can’t text fast enough to give me a piece of her mind. Those are the nights I love. Hearing her voice even if she is yelling at me. It’s like our own private little bubble that no one knows we are talking, and as far as the rest of the world thinks, we can’t stand to be around each other. If only they knew the truth.

But the main thing that sets us both off is the media attention on either of us when we are on a date. The problem is mine are just random women I take to events, but for me seeing her with that rich old man she seems to see often almost rips my heart out. I can’t cope with knowing he is touching what is mine. I spoke to Broderick, and I asked him to look into this Fulton Anderson guy a bit further, once I saw she had seen him again after the first night in St. Tropez. I don’t like what we are seeing in his background, but I have Broderick watching her at this stage, keeping her safe. Because I know if I overstep the mark with her and try to tell her not to see him, then it will backfire, and she will do the opposite.

I feel like a hypocrite because I am also still seeing other women, but nothing serious. And really, that is her fault, because if I had a choice, I would be getting serious with her. I can’t make her want me, as much as I would like to, but she makes her own choices in life. Even if I think they are wrong.

She might have told me that we can never be together, but deep down, I know she is it for me. I just have to sit back and wait for her to figure it out. The more time that passes since the scandal, the more it won’t matter anymore. Well, that’s what I keep telling myself. I even tried to convince myself that Elouise was the type of woman for me, but when that all blew up in my face too, and she ended up with Remington, I just threw my hands in the air and decided maybe I’m just not meant to be in a relationship.

The truth of the matter is I need someone who challenges me. Who pushes me and doesn’t back down. Sets my body on fire and is not afraid to take control of that too.

Scrolling through some of our earlier messages, I can’t help but laugh out loud as I read back through it. I really can be an asshole sometimes.

Flynn: So, is it serious?

Felisha: Hello to you too, Flynn. And what are you talking about?

Flynn: Fulton Anderson!

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