Chapter Twenty-Seven
Liv
We lay on the sofa, and he put his arms around me, his front against my back. In that moment, I felt loved as he placed gentle kisses on my neck and shoulder and held me tightly to him. But I wasn’t stupid. I’d just given him every part of me, and I knew enough to know that the obligatory cuddle always preceded the ‘thanks for a great time and I’ll see you around.’
“Are you okay?” he asked in a low, cautious voice. “I know I got a bit carried away, but I couldn’t help it.”
“It was perfect,” I answered, instinctively threading my fingers through his to hold his hand.
“You’re perfect,” he said, kissing the back of my head. “I always knew you would be.”
I don’t know why, but I could feel the tears building up and I didn’t want to prolong this anymore. I sat up and his arm fell away from me. He sat up too, so I slid past him and off the sofa, pulling my dress down and then yanking it up so that it was in place again. I probably looked horrific. I’d bet my hair was all over the place, but I was past caring.
He reached his arm forward to hold my hand, pulling me back to him where he sat, but I let go.
“Come back to my room,” he said. “I don’t want this night to be over yet.”
“But it is over,” I replied through the lump that’d developed in my throat.
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“Look, let’s not draw this out, okay? We had sex. Good sex. But it’s over. I’d rather just leave now and avoid the whole morning after walk of shame.” I’d done that enough times and it was no fun.
“There wouldn’t be a walk of shame. What the fuck are you on about?” He sounded pissed now, and I took another step back.
“There would, don’t lie. I’m not stupid, Adam. I know what this is–”
“Well, I’m glad you do because I’ve got no fucking clue. Is it because I was a bit rough?” He was acting clueless, but I wasn’t going to fall for it.
“No. I liked that. You were amazing. But I’m leaving now. Congratulations. You won,” I added, because I felt like he had. I was the loser in his game of consequences.
“I won fuck all,” he snapped. “Sit your ass down and let’s just talk.”
“You did your talking, remember? Now, I’m doing mine,” I said, determined to stay strong and stand my ground. “It’s finished, Adam. Over. You can move onto the next girl and play your games. I’m done.”
“The fuck you are.”
I sensed him standing up from the sofa, heard the creak of the leather and the presence of him as he came towards me, but I moved back over to the door I’d originally come through.
“Spike. There, I said it. Spike. Fucking SPIKE!” I shouted, holding onto the door handle, rattling it, and waiting for it to unlock.
“This is a fucking joke. This isn’t over, Olivia. It’ll never be over. After everything we’ve done, you’re still not getting it? What more have I got to do?”
“I think we’ve done enough,” I said quietly into the room, but jumped in my skin when I heard a loud bang, like he’d punched something, and then I heard the click of the door behind me unlocking. I didn’t stay to see him when the lights went back on. I couldn’t face him seeing the tears that were now streaming down my face. I just turned, heading through the door and slamming it closed behind me. Then I ran down that corridor, back out to the office where Fuck Face sat glaring at me, and I ran out.
Out of that building.
Out of his life.
And out of this nightmare that never seemed to end.