Page 49 of The War Revision
What a fucking mess.
I drive home to my apartment in a blur, moving on autopilot to the point I don’t remember getting here. I’m still furious with my parents. I punch the wheel and let out a deep growl. I need to calm the fuck down. I don’t want Kaiden to see me like this.
A memory of him sleeping in my bed creeps inside my head. He looked soft and vulnerable, drooling a bit on my pillow. I feel my lips curling up. He’s ridiculous, vexing, and sexy and…adorable. In the past year, Kaiden Donnelly has sneaked his way inside my life with his smug smiles, goofy pranks, and annoying rambling. His lame devil jokes and derisive laughs. His pouty lips and that sexy, tight ass. Through all the banter and all the fights, he’s slowly occupied a permanent space in my head, my life, my soul. The sneaky fucker.
I climb my building stairs two at a time and stop in front of his door. It’s midnight, but I I can hear music coming from his apartment. Shawn Mendes is singing “Mercy”.
I knock and don’t have to wait long before the music stops and the door opens to Sally—wearing only a t-shirt.
Kaiden’s t-shirt.
The one I turned pink.
My hot pink t-shirt.
The apology dies on my tongue. My eyes sharpen. A sense of betrayal clings to me like my expensive suits. And deep anger spreads like wildfire at seeing Kaiden emerging from the bathroom wearing only briefs. Messy hair. Red cheeks.
A furious growl escapes my chest.
Sally stumbles back, leaving more than enough space for me to walk inside. My eyes are still firmly on Kaiden, staring daggers at him.
“After what I’ve been through today, I should be drinking my weight in alcohol right now in a five-star hotel room, preferably with someone sucking my cock. But I spent the last two hours driving like a bat out of hell because all I’ve been able to think of is you! You.” I point my finger at him, standing cross-armed, bare chested, pierced-nipples, and covered in delicious tattoos a few feet from me. “You consume my tho.ughts, my body, my… And you don’t even… I’m just one of the many for you.” I wave at a barely clothed Sally.
“What?” he spits out only one word, but I can hear clearly the rage in his voice. Kaiden closes the distance between us at a surprising speed and pushes me hard in the chest. “You dismissed me like I was trash, left without telling me where you were going, sent me a lawyer to pay me out, and-and…fucking went to see your fiancé!” he yells in my face. He knows.
His eyes are bloodshot and puffy. Did he cry? His usually mischievous and lively demeanor seems to have been sucked out of him, replaced by an almost adrift expression.
“I was never engaged,” I bark back. “I’m sorry about I acted. I did leave without telling you, but I was seething. My family tried to force me to get married.” I’m still so fucking furious. “They told me you accepted the money which their lawyer offered you without me knowing. I didn’t believe them, by the way.” Full of irritation, I push back a lock that has fallen on my forehead. “You’re obnoxious, infuriating, vain, and arrogant.”
He huffs at me. “Please, let it all out.”
“But you aren’t a money grabber. I told them to stay away from me and my boyfriend.” I let the last word slip.
“So, he wasn’t your lawyer. Wait, boyfriend?” he asks, looking rapidly from indignant to shocked and unsure.
“Who decided to jump into the arms of one of his fuck buddies as soon I went away.” I fist my hands, trying to control my rage.
“Jesus! I was never that. Ewww.” Sally gags, reminding me of her presence. “We did…nghhh.” She makes a weird noise shuddering in revulsion. “Only once. He came to my bar tonight. We just talked. He was blowing a gasket. Devastated by the fact that you sent a lawyer to pay him off.”
“Hey!” Kaiden’s cheeks turn pink and he averts his eyes. While hope flares within me brighter than anyhellishfire.
“I took him back here to sober up, and the drama queen waved his arms like an opera singer while pining for you, knocking his mug and splashing coffee all over me and himself. That’s why we are half-dressed.”
“For fuck’s sake, Sally, get out,” he whines, pushing me aside to keep the door open.
“Happily, since my work here is done,” she retorts, rolling her eyes. “Cried like a baby, professing his love for you,” she whispers on her way out.
“Out!” Kaiden pushes her into the hallway. “And I want that t-shirt back.”
“I was wrong, you are the chick forScream, the one that shrieks like a chicken.”
Kaiden shuts the door on her face, swearing under his breath.
“Kaiden.” I call his name when after a minute, he still has his back to me. Hands on the door. Head lowered between his shoulders. He straightens up and turns around.
I put my hand around his throat as soon as he does. There’s no pressure behind the hold. It’s just a reminder of the fact that he’s mine.
“Love, eh?” I say softly. Inside? I’m flying. My stomach swoops as if I’m fighting wind currents, feeling scared and so damn excited.
