Page 25 of Ruthless Desires: Vol. One
Tears fill my eyes. Not of heartbreak, but of shame. For going along with this—for lying to myself. For wasting god knows how many months on someone who was never going to be as committed to me as I was to him.
“I can explain,” Adam says, hurriedly yanking the condom off and pulling his pants up. “Just give me a second.”
But I’m already backing away.
“Wren—”
“Just let her go, Adam,” Rachel says, grabbing onto his arm and gripping tightly. “Maybe it’s better this way.”
My lungs feel like they’re on fire. I want to scream and cry and ask why and beg Adam to be better.
But I don’t.
I just turn around and start the long, lonely walk home in the cold.
***
“Are you okay?” Ava asks me as she unlocks the front door to the coffee shop in the morning.
I texted her some of the details last night, but we didn’t talk too much since I had to deal with Adam so much. He came home drunk and tried everything to get me to let him stay—begging, yelling, crying, throwing things. None of it worked, though. Not even him telling me I’d come crawling back to him within a week.
He ended up staying with Chad last night, which I’m sure pissed him off.
Stepping into the shop, I bite my lip. I probably shouldn’t be okay. My heart should be shattered into pieces, and I shouldn’t’ve been able to get out of bed this morning. But instead all I feel is… numb.
“I think so,” I tell Ava eventually. We throw our stuff in the back and fall into our usual opening routine.
To be honest, I’ve been bracing myself for something like this for months. Ever since that night Adam stormed out on me, I’ve had my suspicions. I just didn’t want to admit it to myself.
“He’s a piece of shit,” Ava says.
“No doubt about it.” I let out an exasperated breath. “And the fact that he thought he could get away with it with me in the next room? He’s a fucking idiot.”
Okay, maybe I’m not completely numb. Just thinking about Adam sends fire burning through my veins.
“We could slash his tires,” Ava suggests.
“I don’t want to do anything to him. I just… never want to see him again.”
“Well, hopefully you won’t have to. He’s gonna have all his stuff moved out by today, right?”
“Yeah.” I wince as I realize he still has an apartment key. I doubt he’ll give it up willingly—and that’s if I remember to ask him for it when I get off my shift.
I should write myself a reminder.I reach for my pen.Just gotta find some paper to—
“Hey, have you seen my name tag around?” Ava asks.
“Hmm?” I do a quick sweep of the front. “No, but I’ll help you look.”
Sticking my pen back in my apron, I help Ava scour the place for her name tag. We find it in her coat pocket after a few minutes. While she pins it onto her apron, she gives me a thoughtful look.
“I wish the asshat hadn’t cheated on you, but I’m glad you’re rid of him. You deserve better.”
With a shrug, I turn away. “Obviously, I don’t,” I mutter, quiet enough that Ava can’t hear.
Or so I think.
“Excuseme?”
