Page 36 of Retribution

Hearing the bedroom door close, I turn to see Reed standing by the entrance of the living room, leaning against the frame. His boxers cling to his hips, highlighting his godly body. I find myself blushing, not really sure how to act now that we’ve both given each other our most damning body parts.

“Going somewhere?” He looks up at me through his wet hair hanging over his eyes, the strands looking a darker shade of brown now.

Cringing internally, I smile sheepishly, holding up my phone.

“Uber is on its way.” I shrug.

This must be the awkward walk of shame, the part that people dread after a hook-up. I keep my eyes to the ground and twist my hair around in my finger as I hear his feet padding closer on the carpet.

A finger rests under my chin and brings my face up to meet his. He leans down and his breath fans across my face, freshly minty. His ocean-like eyes bore into me as he brings his lips to meet mine, soft and subtle.

My eyes flutter closed at the sensation, the vibrations of pleasure spreading throughout my body.

He pulls away but keeps his face close to mine.

“I’d like to see you again,” he whispers.

I pull away, reality settling back in. We really did manage to forget about reality tonight, and it was so incredible.

Now, I need to go back to my life and face my problems head-on.

My phone vibrates in my hand, signaling that my Uber has arrived.

Looking back up to Reed, I appreciate his beauty one final time.

“I had fun, but I need to leave. Thank you for taking my mind off of things for some time, I really needed it.”

His jaw tightens at my words, and he looks like he wants to say something.

Before he gets chance, I put my phone in my purse and make a swift exit out of the room, practically running towards the elevators.

Drinking in my appearance in the elevator mirror, I realize I’m a far cry from the girl who left Nina’s house, hours ago. My makeup has all been washed off in the shower, my hair is flat to my scalp and the dark circles under my eyes have decided to delight me with their presence. I flick my wet hair over my shoulder and shiver at the coldness it propels onto my skin, the smell of Reed has been washed from me and I can now return to normal life.

Exiting the elevator, I begin to walk through the lobby.

I can hear him before I can see him.

My feet falter, refusing to budge.

His gaze travels from my bare feet to my attire and then finally to my face. His brows furrow in confusion, my gaze goes to the red-headed girl standing next to him.

And then back to him.

“Indie…” he starts.

I begin shaking my head as the tears line my eyes, I’m unable to cope with having to witness it right in front of me. Scott and no doubt, Faye, or some other girl he was screwing behind my back.

Keeping my eyes to the floor, I continue on my way and out of the lobby doors, yanking open the door of the Uber and climbing in. I mutter a quick ‘hello’ before the driver takes me back to Nina’s.

I lean my head against the window, the coldness somehow not affecting me. I keep replaying the image in my head over and over. Seeing it in real true form, hits the hardest. At least with messages you can kind of make your own mind up about it, read between the lines, ignore it if you want.

When the devil himself is looking right at you, it’s pretty fucking hard to not stare back at him.

I close my eyes and allow a tear to escape, watching the buildings whiz by through my blurred vision. After the first tear, the rest of them unleash one after another like a dam that has just burst its walls.

My chest becomes tight, restricting my ability to breathe.

My brain buzzes at the tension in my head.

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