Page 50 of Rejected Pretend Mate

"Let's go upstairs," he said, squeezing my hand. "Please? I'm tired after that, and I just want to lay in bed with you."

I nodded, and we hopped out of the car. We headed upstairs, where we both stripped down and crawled into the bed. I sank against Weslie, allowing him to hold me tightly.

"I'm sorry," I whispered to him. "If I hadn't…"

"Don't," he said, sounding in pain. "Please….sweetie…this is on me. If I had just been honest from the start, we wouldn't have this problem."

"But…"

He pulled me tighter. "For now, just let me hold you."

I wanted to ask what we were going to do tomorrow, but I didn't. And if I was being honest, I didn't want to think about tomorrow. I just wanted to be in this moment. I closed my eyes and focused on his breathing. I inhaled his scent and allowed myself to drift off to sleep.

Chapter 20 - Weslie

I took a deep breath, opened the truck door, and stepped out. I swallowed, nervous, as I headed inside the apartment complex and onto the elevator.

I hadn't spoken to Cayden since the fight over a week ago. He had switched shifts, working opposite me, and we hadn't run into each other. I had thought of messaging him but wasn't afraid of another beating.

I knew he needed a little space to simmer down, and a week might not be enough, but I figured we were adults. Maybe he would understand if I explained better and told him just how much I loved April.

I understood him being protective, and considering my past, I got his worry, but this was different. April and I were nothing compared to my past relationships. I didn't even count them as relationships, really, because they were always about the sex part. I took them out for dinner or something, but only if they asked. I knew it sounded bad, but they were always aware. We always discussed it before we went forward. If they wanted something more serious, they left.

I heard the ding and the doors open. I rolled my shoulders back as I stepped off the elevator and headed down the hallway to the door. I swallowed as I pulled a hand up and knocked. My stomach twisted up as the hallway fell quiet.

The door was pulled open, and Riley stood in the doorway. She looked a little shocked when she saw me, and then her eyes narrowed. Her arms crossed, and she glared at me. It seemed she was still angry with me herself. "Yes?"

I cleared my throat. "Is Cayden here? I was hoping to speak with him."

She shook her head. "He isn't. He is out grabbing groceries."

I nodded, shoving my hands into my pocket. Shit. I didn't think I had the courage to come back. Maybe I could just hang around downstairs and wait. He wouldn't punch me and ruin his groceries, right?

"But I would like a word with you," she said, opening the door. "Since you're here."

I was tempted to say no, but I couldn't. Riley was April's best friend, and if she wanted to speak to me, so be it. I stepped inside, and Riley shut the door behind me.

The apartment was half packed up, and I was surprised. I hadn't heard anything about them moving so soon, but Cayden wasn't exactly talking to me. "Did you guys get the house?"

Riley nodded her head.

My eyes widened. "The one you guys were hurrying to get the loan for?"

She shook her head. "No, not that one. We found something else. We were going to share it at the party, but instead, you and Cayden decided to have a fight. The moment was ruined."

I cringed, feeling the anger in her words. I leaned on one leg and then the other, rubbing my hands in my pocket.

"I'm sorry. I didn't plan that to happen."

"You should be," she snapped, stopping at the island. She leaned onto her, her eyes narrowing. "You acted like children. You guys broke their door too outside and left a mess of shattered things inside. You ruined artwork that their kids made."

Now, I felt even worse. Ayden never mentioned that part. When he chewed us out in his office, he was putting us both on probation and if we couldn't get our act together, we were both looking at dismissals.

"In my defense, I didn't swing first. He got a few in before I even swung back."

"That doesn't make it better, Weslie! You shouldn't have done what you did."

I frowned, feeling my shoulder sage. "What do you want me to say, Riley?"

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