Should I confess where I’ve been spending the night? Claim Joshua as my new boyfriend? Not if I have any doubts about it. But…
“Once a lover, always a lover,” he adds nonchalantly.
My stomach twists into knots. What planet is this man from? He thinks he can waltz back into my life whenever he feels like it? Pretend nothing happened? I click my tongue in total disgust. I’m stranded between the deep and shallow ends, standing in chest-high water. “Leave.”
He shakes his head. “No. Not until I’ve had a chance to show you how I feel.”
“Are you intoxicated?” I hope he is—that’s the only viable excuse. “Or just stupid?” I’m still leery of climbing out of the pool. I feel safer in the water. I’m a stronger swimmer. The minute I hit land, he gains the upper hand.
“As sober as I’ve ever been.”
Now I’m really nervous.
“Let me kiss you, Macey, hold you in my arms again.”
I laugh bitterly. “I know this is a real struggle for you, being the megalomaniac you are, but what part of
get the fuck out of here
don’t you understand?”
“Uppity little bitch.” He dives off the stairs, headed right for me.
I scramble to the side of the pool and jump out. I run full speed, around the side of the house, and slam into something hard—no, some
one
. I’m breathless and shaky.
What the
…I meet Joshua’s dark gaze. He hugs me close, then holds me away from his body.
“What’s going on?”
I don’t need to answer. Wesley appears on the footpath, dripping wet and looking more enraged then I’ve ever seen. If I don’t say something,
Clash of the Titans
is going to happen.
“Macey,” Wesley snarls. “Who the fuck is he?”
Joshua steps in front of me. “Her fucking boyfriend. Who are you?”
I clutch on to him, trying to drag him toward the house. He’s too big, too strong, too angry to persuade. “Please, Joshua,” I beg. “He’s not worth it.”
Joshua shoots me a death glare, though I know it’s not intended for me. “Go inside.”
He’s dressed in swim trunks, a beach towel draped over his left shoulder. I cringe, knowing he wanted to surprise me by joining me for a morning dip. “I can’t,” I say. “This is my problem.”
“No,” he disagrees. “It’s
our
problem.” He focuses on Wesley again. “Don’t remember me from the club? I cracked you in the face.”
Wesley’s jaw clenches, as if he’s reliving the moment. “Son of a bitch…” He glares at me. “You’re banging this guy?”
I want to disappear. “You don’t have the right to question me. We’re done. Understand? You thought so little of our relationship that you cheated on me.”
“Answer me,” he presses.
“Joshua
is
my boyfriend.” Saying it breathes life into my weary body. “Now go before I call security.” That’s why I love living here: my rent includes the discreet services of a private security company. Men with real badges and guns.
Defeat finally registers on his face. “It’s not that easy, Macey.”
I glance at Joshua, wondering what to do. I’ve made it clear on several occasions that I’m not interested in reconciling with my ex. “We’re going inside,” I tell Wesley. “Make sure you close the gate when you leave.” I give Joshua a solid shove toward the house, and to my surprise, he lets me take the lead.
—
Two things just happened. Macey claimed me and I started a hit list. I’m not done with Wesley yet, not by a long shot. But I know this isn’t the place or time to finish things with that asshole. Macey opens a side door and we end up in a mudroom. There’s shelving and a couple of padded benches and a powder room. Every time I’m over here I discover another place in this house. It’s too big for her to live in alone.
Then she glances up at me with confusion, seeking my reassurance, probably needing me to tell her I know she didn’t do anything wrong. She didn’t. When she slammed into me, I knew someone was after her and all I
“Once a lover, always a lover,” he adds nonchalantly.
My stomach twists into knots. What planet is this man from? He thinks he can waltz back into my life whenever he feels like it? Pretend nothing happened? I click my tongue in total disgust. I’m stranded between the deep and shallow ends, standing in chest-high water. “Leave.”
He shakes his head. “No. Not until I’ve had a chance to show you how I feel.”
“Are you intoxicated?” I hope he is—that’s the only viable excuse. “Or just stupid?” I’m still leery of climbing out of the pool. I feel safer in the water. I’m a stronger swimmer. The minute I hit land, he gains the upper hand.
“As sober as I’ve ever been.”
Now I’m really nervous.
“Let me kiss you, Macey, hold you in my arms again.”
I laugh bitterly. “I know this is a real struggle for you, being the megalomaniac you are, but what part of
get the fuck out of here
don’t you understand?”
“Uppity little bitch.” He dives off the stairs, headed right for me.
I scramble to the side of the pool and jump out. I run full speed, around the side of the house, and slam into something hard—no, some
one
. I’m breathless and shaky.
What the
…I meet Joshua’s dark gaze. He hugs me close, then holds me away from his body.
“What’s going on?”
I don’t need to answer. Wesley appears on the footpath, dripping wet and looking more enraged then I’ve ever seen. If I don’t say something,
Clash of the Titans
is going to happen.
“Macey,” Wesley snarls. “Who the fuck is he?”
Joshua steps in front of me. “Her fucking boyfriend. Who are you?”
I clutch on to him, trying to drag him toward the house. He’s too big, too strong, too angry to persuade. “Please, Joshua,” I beg. “He’s not worth it.”
Joshua shoots me a death glare, though I know it’s not intended for me. “Go inside.”
He’s dressed in swim trunks, a beach towel draped over his left shoulder. I cringe, knowing he wanted to surprise me by joining me for a morning dip. “I can’t,” I say. “This is my problem.”
“No,” he disagrees. “It’s
our
problem.” He focuses on Wesley again. “Don’t remember me from the club? I cracked you in the face.”
Wesley’s jaw clenches, as if he’s reliving the moment. “Son of a bitch…” He glares at me. “You’re banging this guy?”
I want to disappear. “You don’t have the right to question me. We’re done. Understand? You thought so little of our relationship that you cheated on me.”
“Answer me,” he presses.
“Joshua
is
my boyfriend.” Saying it breathes life into my weary body. “Now go before I call security.” That’s why I love living here: my rent includes the discreet services of a private security company. Men with real badges and guns.
Defeat finally registers on his face. “It’s not that easy, Macey.”
I glance at Joshua, wondering what to do. I’ve made it clear on several occasions that I’m not interested in reconciling with my ex. “We’re going inside,” I tell Wesley. “Make sure you close the gate when you leave.” I give Joshua a solid shove toward the house, and to my surprise, he lets me take the lead.
—
Two things just happened. Macey claimed me and I started a hit list. I’m not done with Wesley yet, not by a long shot. But I know this isn’t the place or time to finish things with that asshole. Macey opens a side door and we end up in a mudroom. There’s shelving and a couple of padded benches and a powder room. Every time I’m over here I discover another place in this house. It’s too big for her to live in alone.
Then she glances up at me with confusion, seeking my reassurance, probably needing me to tell her I know she didn’t do anything wrong. She didn’t. When she slammed into me, I knew someone was after her and all I
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