“Ezra, please…don’t do this. You don’t mean it. You’d never hurt me.”
“Say you’re mine,” he growls.
“I’m…”
“Say it!!” He cocks the gun and I can’t breathe. My chest feels as though it is about to collapse.
A shot rings out as he fires the gun in the air.
“Stop, just stop. I’ll do anything you want.”
“Conleigh. Conleigh!” Someone screams my name.
I gasp for air.
“Wake up, Conleigh. I think you’re having a bad dream?”
Glancing around, feeling bewildered, my eyes begin to focus, landing on Bailey.
I gasp, sucking in another breath. Cold sweat slides down my back
“What’s going on with you?”
A feeling of Deja vu sweeps through me as Bailey studies me. It was a dream. All of it. A dream within a dream…or maybe I am just crazy.
“Why was Holden here in bed with you when I got in?” She grins.
Everything comes rushing back at me. Guilt, betrayal, desire, lust...Holden—his hands on my body. The way I felt so whole in his arms.
“I fucked him,” I blurt out, harshly.
Her blue eyes widen, and she gapes at me. “You did what?”
“You heard me,” I say on a groan, stretching my aching legs. “Apparently, Ezra has been diddling his assistant, Judy. For months.”
“And you thought fucking Holden of all people would make the situation better?”
I scrub my palms over my eyes. “No, but it sure made me feel amazing. Are you mad at me?”
“Why would I be mad at you? For fucking Holden? Puh-a-lease. He was never my boyfriend. I’m just surprised. I thought you hated Holden.” She scrunches her nose and I pull my legs up, giving her room to sit on the bed. “So…what now? Are you moving back in, because I just moved my extra shit to your wardrobe and I am not stuffing it back under my bed,” she teases.
I shove her shoulder playfully.
“You know I am kidding. You know you are always welcome back. It’s not like you were gone that long anyway.” She shrugs.
“Yeah, I don’t know what I am doing. I’m a mess.”
“That you are. A beautiful mess my friend. Get up. I need coffee and food. Let’s go to King’s Diner.”
I get an uneasy feeling in my stomach but nod in agreement.
I need a shower. Since all my crap is at the apartment Bailey loans me an outfit and her toiletries. It isn’t like we haven’t shared since we have lived together anyway.
In the shower, I can’t stop thinking about Holden and the way he looked at me. I can still feel his breath on my neck as he held me while I cried, flushing my guilt out of my system through my tears. He was so damn sweet to me. I don’t want to hurt him, but I need to get my life together. I need to meet with my advisor and do something about Ezra.
A knot forms in my throat thinking about him. I can’t believe he cheated on me. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Most men do it. I know Ronald has a mistress. The bitch is a nurse in his office. My mother doesn’t mind it though. Says he can do as he pleases as long as he provides for her. It’s sickening but it’s the hard reality I grew up in.
I finish up quickly, deciding not to wash my hair. I can do it later. Toweling off, I proceed to wipe the steam from the mirror. I stare at my reflection, wondering who in the hell this stranger is looking back at me. A hickey shines like a beacon on my collarbone. I rub my fingers over the red and purple mark, remembering Holden’s lips and teeth tasting and teasing me.