Worth Every Cent (Worth It 2)

I charged him as adrenaline surged through my veins. I knew I needed to get out of that confined space with him. Because the second he had an opening, he’d try to get my towel off me and he wouldn’t stop until he took what he wanted. Andy was disgusting, and I wasn’t past making him bleed if it got me away from him.

I shoved past him, listening as he stumbled into the shower. He cursed as he fell to the tub floor and I had my sights set on Cecily. Why the fuck would she let that man into her place? Why the hell would she let him barge in on me while I was in the shower? I had no idea what she was playing at or what her problem was with me, but I was going to solve the issue today.

The second I stepped out of the bathroom, however, I saw the reason why.

“Michy, come on. All I’m asking for is—”

I heard Andy come out of the bathroom behind me, but my eyes were leveled with Gray. He stood in the doorway of Cecily’s place as she stood beside him. The front door hung wide open and she stood there with a look in her eye that made me want to slap her. She crossed her arms over her chest as Gray’s unwavering stare bounced between my face and Andy’s presence behind me.

I felt Andy reach out for my hip, but I smacked his hand before turning around and glaring at him.

“Hey there, Gray,” I said.

I flushed with embarrassment from head to toe as Andy pushed past me. He almost knocked me off my feet before he headed for the front door. And I steadied myself just in time to see him shoulder-check Gray on the way out. Cecily snickered and shook her head, like she was innocent in all this. I wanted to punch her right in her nose. She had orchestrated this somehow, but to what end, I wasn’t sure. All I knew was the frown on Gray’s face signaled his anger and the way he glared at Andy let me in on the fact that he wasn’t past beating the shit out of him, too.

Like he had those guys in the bar.

“I have a list of rental properties for us to see today,” Gray said.

His eyes slowly panned back over to mine as Cecily’s face shot up to his. Her eyes widened with shock, and I had no idea why. None of this made any sense. But I knew I couldn’t stay with Cecily a second longer. She had willingly let my ex into her place so he could corner me and she even more willingly brought Gray to watch the show.

Whatever her purpose, it was dangerous staying with her any longer.

“Just give me a couple of minutes to get dressed,” I said.

“I’ll wait in the car.”

He turned quickly on his feet and left in the blink of an eye. My hands trembled as I turned around and scurried back to the bathroom. I pulled my wet hair back and braided it down before I dried the rest of my body off. I had no time for makeup. The only thing I could hope was that Gray enjoyed a natural look to the women he enjoyed.

How bad did all of this look to Gray? I was honestly surprised he didn’t turn around and leave. My breaths came in short spurts as I pulled on the clothes I brought with me into the bathroom. Tears fell down my cheeks like the weak little girl I was. Why had Cecily done something like that? What was the purpose? What was she trying to accomplish?

I didn’t know. And I didn’t really care to stick around and figure it out.

Wiping at my tears, I wished for the day to go by quickly. It took me a few minutes before my breathing evened out and the tears no longer poured down my cheeks. I took one last look in the mirror before I stepped out, and I was met with an empty room and my things piled in a corner on the couch.

“I’m heading out,” I said. “I’ll be back later.”

But instead of Cecily responding, she simply stayed silent.

She was probably getting annoyed with me. And I couldn’t blame her. Everywhere I went, things crumbled underneath me. Disappointment and destruction followed me in my wake. My mother reminded me of it every day she could, and now I was reaping the truth behind her words. I always thought the slogan ‘mother knows best’ was a crapshoot thing mother’s said when they wanted to manipulate people into doing things they wanted them to do.

But I slowly started wondering if my mother had been right about me.

If Cecily was disappointed or annoyed with me, then she could join the club. I could probably make us some damn t-shirts. All I seemed to be good at was disappointing people. Ruining moments. Screwing up my life. I walked over to my purse and picked it up, checking to make sure I had everything I needed. My wallet. My money. My cell phone. My identification. Because if I saw something I could afford and I had the ability to apply for it today, I would.

Anything to get away from the disaster that had just occurred and start over. On my own.

Yet again.

As I stepped out onto the porch, I saw Gray sitting in his car. His head was tilted back and his eyes were eyeing the clouds as they passed by. The only good thing about the encounter with Andy was that my day could only get better. Even if Gray was pissed off at me and wanted to get rid of me as quickly as he could, it was still better than what had just happened. I approached his car and opened the door, ripping him from his trance.

He eyed me up and down before I slipped in, then backed out of the driveway before I even had my seat belt on.

“The first property we’re going to see is an apartment complex a half-mile walk from the diner,” Gray said.

I nodded my head as I watched the world pass us by.

“After that are a couple of homes, then a duplex and another apartment.”