Page 29 of Easy To Lose

“To you.” I smile at her response, not knowing what I would do without her.

It’s been an hour, and I’ve tried my hardest to ignore my phone burning a hole in my back pocket. But every time there’s a lull in conversation, it’s all I can feel. Before I have a chance to think better of it, I excuse myself from the handful of friends still outside and head into the house. Once I close the door, I take out my cell and pull up the contact I’ve been trying to ignore all night.

Owen.

I hit call and pray I get an answer this time, even if it’s not the one I want or accept. I just want some kind of resolution so I can feel like I’m back on solid ground. I’m so used to the ringing sound that I almost miss when the line connects, and a female voice answers.

“Can I help you?” the voice asks, and my brain tingles at the tone. For a split second, I wonder if I called the wrong number.

“Is Owen there?” I hate the way my voice cracks with uncertainty and the way my stomach drops when the woman sighs as if talking to me is a hardship to bear.

“No, he’s not. He’s busy, and probably will be for a while...if you know what I mean.” She giggles, a sound that I know will resonate in the back of my mind for a long time, and then the line goes dead.

I don’t remember falling to the floor, I don’t remember Charly coming in and sitting in front of me, trying to get me to look at her. And I definitely don’t remember Simon picking me up and walking me back to my bedroom where I stay until the sun comes up.

Chapter 24

Owen

It’s been hours. We move from the kitchen, to the dining room then begrudgingly to the living room where I sit with my head in my hands, not knowing what else to do. The sun is starting to set, and I wonder if I’ll ever get out of this house, knowing those photos aren’t out in the world for others to see.

“Bailey, please. I’m begging you. All I want to do is protect her, so please let me delete the photos. That’s all I want. As much as I want to deny that breaking up with you wasn’t because of Morgan, I can’t. Morgan and I have a history. We have a past. And I’ve been in love with her since I was sixteen.” Bailey rolls her eyes, and I grab her shoulders, making her gaze meet mine. “I know it’s hard to hear, but you need to get it through your head that we’re done. Morgan was always the endgame; I just didn’t know it.” I also want to call my lawyer and get a restraining order for not only me but also Morgan, but that’s for later. Right now, I just need to get those photos off her phone.

It didn’t take me long to get it out of her how she got them. As it turns out, when she came into the gym the other day, she snatched my phone off the front desk while I was hiding in the back. She said she wasn’t looking for anything in particular, but when she found the photos, she sent them to herself and put my phone back where I left it.

It’s almost as if I have no idea who this woman is. This is not the woman I asked out last year, and it’s definitely not the woman I thought I loved only a few months ago. “Bails…” I hope using her nickname gets through to her more than the yelling has so far. “I know I hurt you, and that’s on me. But, blackmail? That’s not how this goes, that’s not how this ends.”

As she sits on the lounge chair opposite me, her knees pinned to her chest, I wonder if I actually got through to her at all.

“So, how does this end then? You happily in love, and me rotting on the sidelines? I don’t think so.” Apparently, a rational response was too much to ask.

“I’m not asking for much here, Bailey. All I’m asking for is for you to delete those photos. I’ve stayed here for hours because I want to do this the easy way.” Her eyebrow quirks in question, and I just shake my head and continue. “The easy way is me asking you to delete the photos and you doing the right thing.” She scoffs as if that’s the furthest thing from her mind. “The hard way is me getting my lawyer involved and taking you to court. Filing a harassment charge, as well as defamation of character and blackmail.” I think the gravity of the situation finally sinks in, yet from the defiant look in her eyes, it’s clear she knows that it’s her only leverage, and if she gives it up, it’s done.

“You wouldn’t do that,” she croaks, getting up from the chair and pacing the room. I stand, making her stop in her tracks as she watches me make my way toward her. She backs up, hitting the wall behind her as I cage her in.

“Try me,” I mutter through clenched teeth.

“If you were serious, you wouldn’t have spent the last few hours with me instead of with her.” She’s right. I tried to avoid the legal route because it could get messy, fast. But right now, I’m praying for a miracle.

“I gotta piss,” I say, walking away and heading to the bathroom to catch my breath and figure out what to do next. I’m trying not to think of Morgan and what she’s probably thinking right now. I know she’s likely wondering where I am. I know she’s probably sent me a million texts and messages, asking me to call her back. And the overwhelming sense of guilt that crashes over me at the thought of her thinking that I don’t love her, imagining that I don’t want every part of her forever, sends me into a tailspin.

Fuck it, I think, staring at my reflection in the mirror. I’m done being the nice guy. I make my way back into the kitchen and hear Bailey on the phone.

“Can I help you?” She pants, voice sultry, and from where I’m standing, she looks smug. I wonder who she’s talking to. “No, he’s not. He’s busy, and probably will be for a while...if you know what I mean.” Her giggle sends nausea coursing through my entire being, and it hits me like a Mack truck who she’s talking to—and the fact that she’s on my phone.

“What the fuck are you doing?” My voice rises as I make my way toward her, and as she drops my phone onto the counter. I see Morgan’s name on the display, and I silently curse my stupidity. Bailey shrugs her shoulders as if what she did wasn’t that bad, and that’s when the tether breaks. This is the moment I stop caring about creating problems for her. This is the moment I stop caring about Bailey altogether. “Get the fuck out of my house. Now.” I point to the front door, but she doesn’t move. I lean over and look her directly in the eye. “Did I stutter?” I press as she gives me a cocky smirk.

“Nope. But I want to remind you that those photos are still right here.” She takes her phone from her back pocket and shakes it in my face. “And if I leave, then they get sent to everyone.” God give me the strength to not throw this woman out my door with my bare hands.

“If you do not get out of my house right now, I will call the cops and have you arrested for trespassing.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” she murmurs, and I just stand there with my hands on my hips, waiting.

“Try me.”

She huffs as she collects her things and begrudgingly walks to the front of the house. She turns as she opens the door and says, “You will regret this, Owen.” I shake my head as I place my hand on her back and push her out the door.

“You’ll be hearing from my lawyer in the morning.” I slam the door in her face and take the first real breath I have since I woke up this morning to find her text.

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