Page 9 of Formula Freedom
Lara shudders over my question. “He thought I was flirting with you. He was accusing me of all kinds of horrid things, and I had no idea what he was talking about. I mean… you and I talked, but it was just… friendly talk, right?”
There was absolutely no flirting. I can attest to that because I know what flirting with Lara looks like. It’s something I stopped doing when we parted ways the last time. “There was no flirting.”
She nods. “The argument escalated, all his false accusations, and I got so mad at him, I snapped. Decided to confront him about his cheating.”
My eyes bug out. “He’s cheating on you?”
What a fucking idiot. I mean… who would ever cheat on this amazing, beautiful, talented and loving soul?
Lara snorts with laughter, claps her hand over her mouth as if she realizes this isn’t funny. “That really pissed him off. He turned it around on me. Made me seem like the bad guy because I saw his text messages. That’s when he slapped me and then told me he wasn’t going to talk about it anymore. When he went into the shower, I packed my bag and lit out of there.”
She says it plainly. A statement. Not a plea for sympathy.
But I still feel sick.
“You were right to leave,” I say softly.
“It’s long overdue. It was solidified when I realized he was unfaithful, but after tonight… he crossed a line. This will never get better, and I knew if I didn’t leave now, I might not get the chance again.”
“I’m glad you came to me.”
“I don’t know what I’m doing,” she whispers. “I packed and ran, and now I’m here and I have no clue what the next move is.”
I nod toward the guest room down the hall. “The next move is getting some sleep. You’re safe here, Lara. We’ll figure out a game plan in the morning.”
Her eyes fill with tears. She blinks fast and swallows hard, forcing them down. “Thank you, Reid.”
I’m about to offer to grab her some tea when her phone rings. She flinches, then picks it up off the coffee table.
“It’s Lance.”
Her thumb hovers over the screen.
“Don’t,” I say. “You don’t owe him anything.”
She nods, sets the phone back down.
It rings again and Lara stares at it like it might explode.
Then a series of chimes start. A text. Then another. And another.
We watch as the messages light up the screen in a long tirade.
Lara doesn’t make a move to look at them, but I can’t help myself. I grab the phone. “What’s your password?”
She rattles it off without hesitation.
I pull up her messages and take in each one.
Where the fuck are you?
You better come back now.
I’ll make you regret this.
You know I didn’t mean it. Let’s talk. We can fix this.
Answer me, Lara. Now.
