Page 8 of Rejected Pretend Mate

"You think you're unsafe?" Ivan laughed, and it curled my stomach. I moved away from the door and back towards the couch. "You think a locked door is going to keep you safe, April? You should know me better by now."

"You're still drunk, aren't you?" I asked, running a hand over my face.

"Possible, it's the only way I can tolerate your ass."

I ground my teeth together and held back a growl. "Go home, Ivan. You have the divorce paperwork. Everything is already sent in. So, there is nothing linking you to me anymore."

"You see, this is where you're wrong. It's not that simple, April. There is the dividing of everything. Dividing of assets. Dividing of our accounts."

I threw my hands up, feeling we had already had this fight before. "I took what I wanted and left you practically everything! I took my car, which I paid for with my own money, and I took my family jewelry. I left you everything else. And the accountants are handling the money, so there is no reason for you to call me! So just fucking go home!"

I panted, wanting to punch a wall. I wanted to be free. I just wanted to move on and start over like Riley had been able to.

Ivan was quiet for a moment before his voice shifted. "Enjoy your TV, April. But I wouldn't get too comfortable because you and I both know you're going to screw this up and come crawling back to me like you always have. You think you can do this, but you can't."

The line ended, and I couldn't breathe. I stared at the TV, suddenly feeling I couldn't turn it on. I couldn't do anything. I turned, looking at the front door, making sure it was locked. I turned, walking towards the patio, and made sure the door was locked. I scanned the parking lot, but the feeling he was watching was gone.

I wrapped my arms around myself, tempted to call Cayden. But I didn't. I was safe. Ivan couldn't touch me.

A shiver ran down my spine, and I remembered why I left. Because, in truth, Ivan was unsafe. He had hurt me before. He'd hurt me many times before. He'd choked me. He'd slapped me. Ivan was the type to stalk me.

I swallowed, knowing I wasn't going to sleep at all at night.

Chapter 4 - Weslie

"Hey, do you and Cayden want to run and grab breakfast for us?" Ayden stopped at the other edge of the kitchen island. He grabbed the coffee pot and poured himself a mug.

"Sure," I said, giving him a nod as I set my mug down.

"Why are we grabbing breakfast, though?" Cayden asked mid-yawn.

"I promised the guys I would have some when they arrived, and I forgot to grab something. The kids are a handful this morning, so I ran out of time."

"Ha," Cayden laughed as he pointed at me. "You have to run an errand."

"And because you laughed, you get to go with him."

I smirked smugly at Cayden. "Ha."

We headed outside and started down the street. Cayden sighed, rubbing at his neck.

"You look tired," I said as we stopped at the crosswalk. "You not getting enough sleep? Or have you been busy pleasing your woman?" I asked, elbowing him.

He snorted, rolling his eyes. "Oh, shut up. I just didn't sleep well last night. Riley worked late, and her feet bothered her. She was tossing most of the night and kept me up. Not to mention everything with April."

"You could have slept in the spare bedroom. You guys haven't changed it, have you?"

He shook his head. "If I did that, she would have felt worse than she already did. I didn't want her to feel worse.Besides, I would rather get no sleep lying with her than sleep without her. She helps calm my nerves."

I shook my head as the light turned green, and we started walking across the road. "So, you two are still happy as ever?" I asked.

Cayden nodded. "I love her. I don't think I've ever stopped loving her this way. She makes me happy and accepts me for me."

I wondered if I would ever have that. I couldn't remember the last time I felt like I wanted someone that badly. Any relationship I had was nothing special, and I didn't want to waste my time if the person wasn't right for me. I never really wanted anything serious besides when I was with April all those years ago and now that Cayden was married.

We headed down the sidewalk, turning to the left. A shiver ran down me from the wind, and I tightened my jacket. Winter was coming to an end, but man, was it still bitter out.

"We could have driven, you know," I muttered.

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