Page 65 of Connected By Stars
I chew on my bottom lip, trying to think of something to say.
Bella
We’re good. I just got busy and forgot to text him back.
Sophia
Okay, well, make sure you do before he gives himself a stroke.
Bella
I’ll do it right now. See you tomorrow. Love you.
Sophia
Love you too.
I set my phone on the bed and pace the small room. I’m not ready to talk to him yet, but I also don’t want Sophia to become suspicious. Just because we messed up and crossed lines that we shouldn’t have doesn’t mean everyone else has to suffer.
Sighing, I grab my phone and open up Mav’s messages. My screen fills up with the last ones sent to me today, saying how sorry he is about everything and how we need to talk. His last ones sound desperate when he wants to know where I am. I don’t bother scrolling up to read all of them. A person can only deal with so much at once. I think of what to say and type it out before I can think about it any further.
Bella
Please stop texting Sophia. She’s going to get suspicious and find out things that never should have happened. Let it go. I already have.
I hit send and bite my lip again as I see him responding right away. I haven’t let anything go, but he doesn’t need to know that. He wanted a one-night stand, and I can play the part just as well as any other girl who doesn’t want to reveal how deep the cut was.
Maverick
Why the fuck have you been ignoring me? Have you even read a single text I’ve sent?
Maverick
So you think Saturday should never have happened? That it was a mistake?
I’ve never lied to Maverick, and I never thought I ever would, but a selfish part of me wants him to hurt like I do, so I give him the biggest lie I’ve ever told.
Bella
We both got what we wanted in the moment. We knew deep down this would never be more than one night, even if we tried to convince ourselves otherwise. I should have listened to you when you told me that you don’t do more. I’m letting you off the hook. It was fun while it lasted, but it’s not something I want anymore.
I hit send as the tears fall silently down my face. My chest hurts as I try to breathe deeply to calm myself. I know that text will hurt him, but he’ll find someone else tonight who will be more than willing to lessen his pain for the night. It takes a full minute before I see the dots appear.
Maverick
You don’t mean that. You can’t mean it. Where are you? We need to talk. NOW.
Bella
I do mean it. I need to get back to work. Just don’t text Sophia anymore. I don’t want her to know about any of this. We need to leave it in the past and forget about it.
Maverick
I won’t ever be able to forget about it. It’s all I think about. Just tell me where you are so I can come to you.
It’s all I can think about, too. The memories of that onenight are all I have left. I shut off my phone and lay back down, pulling my knees to my chest. My stomach suddenly filled with knots, taking away all the hunger from earlier. I pray for sleep, but it never comes as I lay there in the dark alone with my thoughts and should-have-beens.
Chapter Twenty-Six
