Page 11 of Undone

Dorian didn’t flinch, locking eyes with John. “I think she can speak for herself,” he said, taking a step closer.

John shook his head, muttering under his breath. Without waiting for an answer, he stormed out, the door slamming behind him.

Frozen, I stood facing the door, my eyes fixed on where John had walked out. A heavy knot settled in my stomach.

I brushed my face, where his kiss barely landed, and I wondered how it had come to this, from something that once felt so familiar.

Dorian’s eyes roamed over me before he slowly retreated to the couch. There was something about the way he watched me.

“You okay?” he asked. The tone of his voice carried a deep seriousness I hadn’t heard yet. I plopped down next to him, letting a long sigh escape.

“I’m fine…” I said, glancing over at him.

He tilted his head, studying me in that way that almost made me feel too exposed. “Your boyfriend’s kind of a dick.”

The directness of his words hit hard, and I shifted uncomfortably. “John’s just under a lot of stress at work lately.” The words felt hollow, even as I said them.

It pissed me off that I was in a position that I had to defend my boyfriend for being an asshole.

Because Johnwasbeing a fucking asshole.

“He’s not usually like this,” I said, my words betraying the truth I wasn’t ready to admit.

Dorian raised an eyebrow. I kept my focus on a spot on the coffee table, not meeting his eyes. “I’d hope he doesn’t act like that all the time. You deserve better.”

I exhaled, forcing a weak smile. “I can handle it, but… thanks.” My tone was softer now, less defensive.

“Fair enough,” he said with a nod. His back rested against the couch, his arms folding at his stomach. Then his lips quirked into a teasing smile. “Want to watch an episode?”

I blinked at the sudden shift, surprised at how easily he let it go.

“Okay…”

And just like that, the tension dissolved, replaced by an unfamiliar ease he somehow brought out in me. We ended up watching several episodes, trading commentary about the plot and characters like nothing happened. By the time the clock ticked into the early hours of the morning, the moment with John felt like a distant memory, leaving only the comfort of Dorian’s company as we said goodnight.

FOUR

Dorian - September

DOWN BAD - TAYLOR SWIFT

I thoughtthe long stretch of road might help clear my mind. But as I left the city behind, the lights fading in the rearview mirror, I couldn’t get Noah out of my head.

Seattle had been a whirlwind—meetings, lectures, networking—everything I expected.

But what I hadn’t expected washer.

The moment I met her, I knew she was different. There was something about her that drew me in without her even trying. She carried herself with a calmness that made everything feel a little more settled simply by being near her.

I tried to focus on the road, the miles of asphalt disappearing beneath my tires, but every mile brought another thought of Noah.

Fuck, even that name was pretty.

My mind replayed her standing in the doorway of her apartment, her hand resting on the frame as she took me in for the first time. Her dark curls framed her face, catching the light in a way that was almost surreal. The warm glow behind her outlined her petite frame, and her skin was luminous, like she’d stepped right out of a fucking painting. There was something captivating in her gaze that held me in place much longer than it should have.

And it wasn’t just that she was beautiful, though she undeniably was. It was more than that. It was the way she stirred things in me that I’d worked so hard to bury, things I hadn’t felt in years.

Dotty mentioned her best friend in passing over the years, but nothing could’ve prepared me for the way my chest constricted when I saw her.

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