Page 24 of Another Round
With her face toward the floor, her slender body stretches out as she planks. Silent and steady above her purple yoga mat. For as much as she wants to be independent and free, she appeases me and my rules by staying at home to work out since we missed our morning run. A good heart in her adventurous spirit not to push me while I was incapacitated. As well as when I’m an arsehole. I need to apologize.
But first I need to clean up. I gulp down a liter of water and take a quick but thorough shower before shaving and brushing my teeth. I still feel like hell but look at least a little more human. Hopefully, she’ll agree.
Although an apprehensive frown rather than the smile I’ve become accustomed to greets me when she opens the door. I force a grin while she studies my face. Probably searching for remnants of the idiot she had to deal with yesterday. “Good morning, trouble.”
“I think that’s what I should be calling you.”
Relief seems to wash through her with my teasing, and she releases her death grip on the knob. Waving me inside despite the concern still lining her forehead.
“Are you okay?”
“I’ll live.” She closes the door yet neither of us moves. Standing in the entryway unable to connect. Neither of us sure what to do about the awkwardness between us. “I’m sorry about last night. I appreciate you cleaning up. You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know. I just wanted to help. Although it doesn’t feel like enough.”
“It’s more than enough.” Fuck me for being weak. I messed up letting her in my apartment. In my head. Hell, in my whole damn life. “I guess you saw everything.”
Not sure how else to describe the wreckage from my mistakes, but she seems to know what I mean by her slight head bob.
“It breaks my heart…for all of you.” Her gaze bores into me. Ensuring I’m listening to her. That I’m hearing her message. “You shouldn’t blame yourself.”
My pulse races harder. Shame flooding my veins for the furious thoughts that bombard my mind when I think about what Madeline did. Reminding myself she only broke down because I wasn’t where I should have been. “No one else to blame but me.”
Evie must not agree the way she curls her lips in. Forcing herself not to say what she thinks. An argument she’ll never win. I know what I did and what I deserve. Nothing she can say will ever change that.
A soft ping breaks the silence, and she grabs her mobile off the counter. Typing out a quick response before she looks up. Her eyes meet mine again. Not quite as confident this time.
“Lauren, a girl from work, is coming over to borrow a dress for a wedding she’s going to next weekend. She’s been super sweet to me since I’m new and everything, so I wanted to return the favor.”
A perfectly normal and ordinary reason to have guests yet somehow I sense she’s lying. That she’s hiding something behind her casual demeanor. I act like it’s fine, that I’m fine, and nod. “I definitely don’t want to get in the middle of that.”
Her giggle is fake too. Nervous and forced. “I don’t blame you.”
“I guess I’ll go then.”
Easy for me to hightail it out of here with my lame excuse. I’ve done what I came here to do. I apologized and she accepted. No reason to linger since she wants me gone. I should be gone.
“We can still go to the game later if you want?”
Damn. It’s finally come to that. She offers to spend time with me out of pity. Obligation. Guilt. “Sure, love. Whatever you want.”
My lack of enthusiasm hurts her, and the phony smile disappears. I guess neither of us needs to pretend anymore. No friendly hugs or pecks on the cheek before I leave. Returning back to my place where I ignore the alarm for the stairwell and the chime for her door opening and the laughter floating down the hallway until nothing but silence. Glorious silence that I’m used to. That I thought I liked. That I’ve learned I hate now that I’ve met her.
I chug down more water.
I check the weather for the game later.
I write the check for my electric bill.
Fuck it.
I look at my laptop and a bomb only she can ignite detonates inside me.
Not just a girl. Two blokes, one of whom talks to Evie. She talks back. Glowing with a smile that I don’t recognize. An excitement I don’t like. An interest I don’t want her to have.
He’s her own age.
He’s clean cut and preppy.
