Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 87967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
I felt utterly listless as disappointment ran through me. I could hear him getting dressed to leave. I stood up from where I knelt down and left his shirt on the ground. I walked into the bathroom before I could see him again. I stood in the middle of the bathroom and waited until I heard him leave. Not once did he hesitate, not once did he make an effort to speak to me. Two questions ran through my mind. What did I do that was so bad that he needed to leave? And what did he exactly do last night?
I walked up to the counter and braced myself. My heart constricted as various images of Daimon with someone else floated around in my thoughts. I could barely look at myself in the mirror, not wanting to see the one who sold herself. I yanked off the clothes I was wearing and stepped into the shower. Taking the loofah sponge, I roughly brushed at my skin, wanting to wash off the feeling of filth staining my skin. I literally hated myself and the decision I made. The bitterness still inside me as I remembered how happy Sofia looked ate away at me, while the words Daimon’s father spoke rang true. Who was I really? What had happened to the Addie who had dreams and desires? I stepped out of the shower and dressed in silence. I was not going to stay here and wait until Daimon was ready. I was going to go out and find out just who the hell I was exactly.
Texting Elissa, I asked her to meet with me.
****
“So you got into a fight with old blue eyes, did ya?” she asked, blowing on her coffee as we sat at a local café, called Café Grumpy.
The red brick, the down-to-earth employees, the great coffee and the fresh air were exactly what I needed. Staying cooped up in the stupid penthouse was suffocating me.
“Fuck him,” I said, picking up my giant oatmeal cookie.
“Do tell.” She smiled as she put down her coffee and waited.
“There’s nothing to say. He’s just an asshole who thinks only about himself and doesn’t care about how I feel. He orders me around because he can’t trust me, and I’m stuck trying to figure out the fact as to why I married him, and if the reasons were good enough to have me suffer this way,” I finished my little tirade and I let out a breath.
“Are you sure there’s nothing wrong?” she said sarcastically.
“I went to see Sofia over the break,” I continued.
“And?” she sounded excited.
“And I sat there being jealous of my little sister,” I said into my chest, ashamed at my words. Elissa reached out and took my hand.
“It’s natural for you to feel like that. It’s what you wanted.” She smiled softly, trying to reassure me.
“She wants to become a doctor.”
“Eesh,” Elissa said, making a face. “That’s a bitch,” she breathed. “Look, I know how much you sacrificed; I think they both know. It’s okay to feel this way. You’re entitled to feel resentment.”
“It’s not right,” I insisted.
“Addie, you’re a human being not a fucking robot. Obviously, you’re going to feel some sort of bitterness, just as long as you admit it and move on. I think you’ll be fine,” she explained.
“I don’t feel human,” I said, annoyed with myself.
“You said it aloud and took ownership of your feelings. That’s the first step to moving forward. Addie, you have so much time ahead of you. You’re not dead. Your life is not set in stone. You now have the money and the time to figure out what you want. Take it and use it.” She winked. “Now, about Daimon…”
“You mean Lucifer?” I corrected.
“Sure.”
“He’s a douche. He made me feel bad and abandoned me on New Year’s Eve because of Darren,” I admitted.
“Darren?” she questioned.
“Yeah, he came by the penthouse and wanted to talk. He said he tried calling me, but Daimon blocked his number.”
“I kind of knew Darren had a thing for you. I get where Daimon’s coming from too. He’s worried you’ll run off with the reliable Darren, the safe and loving Darren,” she remarked.
“Daimon is neither safe nor loving. Let’s not forget he’s unreliable,” I stated.
“Yeah, but that boy loves you like crazy mad. It’s fear he’s feeling, babe,” she shrugged.
“Give me a break. Darren wouldn’t do anything.”
“Darren is a man who is in love with you. He might not notice it now, but he’s desperate and desperate people do stupid things,” she said.
“So you’re saying what Daimon did was fine and I was wrong?” I asked affronted.
“No! I’m saying it’s a fucked-up situation. Darren has to take a step back, let his feelings for you stop before he can come around again. Daimon sees him as a threat and the man hates feeling threatened.” She picked up her coffee and took a sip.