Page 1 of Rejected Pretend Mate

Chapter 1 - April

I stared out the window, taking in the view of Honeyville. I wished I felt more secure taking it in like Riley. I always felt like a cold hand was wrapped around my neck, and I was waiting for something to happen. It was a constant feeling and was starting to get the better of me. I hardly slept, and when I did, I was plagued with nightmares.

My fingers tightened on the mug in my hands, and I swallowed. I chewed on my lower lip, a new habit I'd picked up. It came with the inability to sleep and the anxiety.

I glanced over my shoulder, checking the door to my apartment, making sure it was locked. Even though I knew I had locked it last night and checked it when I got up to make my coffee, I still felt the need to make sure it was bolted and that if someone wanted to get in, they wouldn’t be able to enter.

"You're fixating," I tell myself, shaking my head. "You need to stop."

It was one of the reasons I moved out of Cayden and Riley's place. I didn't want them to figure out just how messed up Ivan had left me. If they knew, they would have wanted to help, but there wasn't anything they could do. I had to figure that out myself, and I needed time to.

And I knew they wanted the space. They would have housed me a lot longer than a month, but I could sense the sexual tension between them. They wanted to be together a lot more than they were, and I knew they would never kick me out. So, I took the chance.

So, when the apartment opened up down here, I snagged it. It was empty, and I didn't have much furniture, but it was my own. The last time I had my own room was growing up, but eventhen, my mother decorated it. She had to add her own personal taste to everything. Nothing was ever really mine, including here.

The apartment was small but spacious. It had an open floor plan, so everything flowed together nicely. A small hallway led to the bathroom and the bedroom.

I had the fireplace going next to me and sighed as I looked down at my coffee. I rubbed my thumb over the rim. It was terrible coffee because I'd run out of creamer. But I was too damn lazy to go out. I held out as long as I could, not wanting to leave the apartment if I didn't need to.

It had snowed again last night, coating the balcony. I stared at it, taking in the thick white blanket that covered everything. I used to enjoy the snow, and now...well...I didn't feel anything. I hated Ivan a little more for that.

I looked down at my phone just as it rang. Riley was calling, and I smiled. She was the sunshine during all of this.

I pulled my phone up. "Hello?"

"You are awake? I was beginning to think that you were hibernating. I called you last night, but you didn't answer."

I didn't want to tell her I'd gone to bed extremely early last night and lay there for two hours before getting up this morning. I slept maybe five hours last night, unable to calm my mind.

"Well, you know me. Enjoying the new space to myself. I'm not listening to people moaning as they climax anymore."

Riley snorted. "Glad to see you still have your sarcasm with you. What were your plans today? And don't tell me you're staying home."

I looked around my space, taking in the emptiness. I knew I should probably do some shopping, but I wasn't motivated to do so. "I don't have any plans."

I should be making plans, looking for a job, and wanting to make the apartment look nice. I should go out and buy stuff that represents my taste. And I need groceries. But staying in knowing I’m safe sounded better.

"Well, I think since Cayden is going to be working late tonight, I thought we could have a movie night at yours. Popcorn and girl talk. We haven't done that in a while."

I glanced around my space towards the top of the fireplace. It was where a TV should sit, but I didn't have one. "You know I don't have a TV."

Riley was quiet for a moment. "Wait, still? You said you were going to go out and buy one a week ago. Why didn't you go out?"

I shrugged. "I've been busy."

"Doing what?" she asked.

I paused. If I told her I hadn't really left the apartment or done anything else, she'd worry, and she had enough on her plate. I didn't need her to worry about me when she was still pulling herself back together after Brad. "I was contemplating the size."

"Jesus, April, it's a TV. It's not like you were going out to buy bedding and redecorate. It's a TV. Just pick a TV and buy it."

I sighed. "I was going out to buy one. I'll have one by tonight."

"Great. And make sure you have popcorn."

I sighed, ended the call, and looked outside again. It looked cold, and now I had to embrace it. I had to get a TV, or else Riley was going to catch on that I wasn't really getting my life together.

I bundled up and made my way outside. My car was parked in the parking lot, coated in snow. I cleaned it off and let the car warm up as I did. I stared at my license plate, scowling at it. I needed to get it changed since I had officially left my old pack.

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