Page 131 of Ordinary Secrets

Jess returns from the closet and settles on the edge of my bed. “How so?”

“It just is.”

“Is it ’cause she’s an Ordinary?” Jess takes my silence as a yes. “Trust me. Relationships with them Ordis never work. Been there, done that plenty. They’re only good for one thing: sex without the consequence of children. I’m actually seeing this new guy. He’s an Eavesdropper, like me. Things are working out so far. Maybe you should try dating Zordis again.”

The idea of that is like hearing tires screeching into my ear. I don’t want to date other Zordis. I only want one person. I just wish I was the only one she wanted too.

Jess stands from my bed to meet me in the doorway. She slides her hands up my bare chest. “Do you need me to remind you what being with your own kind is like?”

She intensifies her erotic emotions, knowing it’ll make me want her. It’s always worked before, but it’s not going to work now. I’m done with this woman. I’m done with her using me. And I’m especially done with her making me feel like the only time I’m worthy of her presence is when she needs a fuck and some cash.

Arella’s never made me feel like an ATM. If anything, she makes me feel like I’m worth morewithoutthe money. Plus, she’s never tried to use my mind power to manipulate me into giving her what she wants.

So I grab Jess by her wrists as I expand my Empath power out. I need to sense anyone but her, because if I don’t control my emotions, she will end up controlling me.

Her jaw drops as her confused shock rushes through my head. I wish I could say that I give a shit, but I don’t.

I’m more concerned about my situation with Arella. Thinking about it again makes me want to crawl into a dark hole and never come out.

The last time I felt this terrible was when I lost Elliott. The time before that? When I lost my parents. Maybe this is my fate—to lose anybody who means anything to me. I’ve lost Arella to another man. Next, I’ll lose Liz and?—

“Seriously?”

I whip my head toward the voice coming from down the hall. Arella’s standing there with her jaw dropped and tears forming in her eyes. Before I can say anything, she runs away.

40

TREY

Barefoot,I dash out in the rain after Arella and catch her by her arm, just as she yanks her car door open.

Water pelts my bare back. “That wasn’t what it looked like, I swear.”

She’s got wet hair, flushed cheeks, and tears streaming down her face. At least, I think those are tears. They could be raindrops. “You’re shirtless, and she had her hands all over you. What am I supposed to think?”

Without waiting for me to answer, she shoves me away and climbs into her car.

I grab the door and hold it open. “Please, don’t go.” I sound desperate—because I am. “Just let me explain.”

She wipes the wetness off her cheeks with the back of her hand as she chokes on a breath. “There’s no need. I know what I saw.”

“Look, I know what it looks like, but I swear to you?—”

“Who is she?” Arella wipes more tears from her face.

I hang my head low. “Her name is Jess.”

“Your ex-girlfriend?”

I nod, and her face contorts.

“So we get into one big fight, and the first thing you do is booty-call your ex-girlfriend?”

“No. She just showed up today.” It’s the truth, but it sounds like a goddamn lie coming from my lips.

“What did she want? Sex?”

“Yeah.”

---