As soon as he left, I jumped into a quick shower, trying to mentally prepare myself for the day ahead. Calling my mom next to come watch Ben, I left him with the housekeeper and let her know my mom would be there soon.
“Have a great day, Mom!”
Ben waved from the couch, and I kissed the top of his head.
“Be good for Grammy.”
Hyperventilating as I exited the house, I hauled ass to my car. My was mind spinning, and I was suffocating in his lies. My heart, mind, sanity, it couldn’t take it anymore. I was shaking like a leaf, and my whole body felt like it was giving out on me. There were too many emotions happening all at the same time, and I couldn’t control any of them.
An hour later, I was jumping on a flight to Atlanta. Jax flew on a private charter with his team like always. The entire flight my mind was one big, jumbled mess of what-ifs.
My heart raced as the seconds ticked by, watching our whole relationship play out in front of my eyes. I took a deep breath, steadying myself before I stepped off the plane. I rushed through the airport, hailing a cab to take me to the Marriott.
“Pull over right here,” I ordered once we arrived.
The driver slammed on the brakes, and I threw money at him before the car even came to a complete stop, skidding to the curb. I ran into the building, heading straight to concierge.
Ducking my face under my hat, I kept my sunglasses on, wanting to go unnoticed.
The attendant recognized me immediately, saying she’d ring Jax that I was coming up to his room.
“No!” I eagerly shouted. “I want to surprise him. He doesn’t know I’m here.”
“Aww! How sweet, Mrs. Colton.”
Mrs. Colton… Talk about a shot to the heart.
She handed me a key fob. “He’s on the penthouse floor.”
Of course he is.
Smiling, I backed away and hurried down the corridor to the private elevator to his floor. The anxiety for what was to come still lived and breathed in my blood. It pumped in my veins, releasing a piercing vibration at my temples. I ignored the looming feeling that I felt in the depths of my core.
Instead, I focused on my task, catching him cheating on me for the second time. My hand was on the handle of the door. Slowly, I opened it, not wanting him to hear I was there. As if being pulled by a string, I made my way inside.
One step.
Six steps.
Nine steps.
Thirteen.
“Yeah, Evie. Just like that.”
I stopped dead in my tracks.
“Are you sure?” she replied, her voice echoed off the walls.
I gasped and placed my hand over my mouth, not wanting to be heard.
The truth blatantly slapped me in the fucking face again. I couldn’t stop my feet from moving, following the sounds of their voices.
Fifteen steps.
Nineteen steps.
Twenty-one.