ONE
Hit.
I was back in the living room of my apartment. It waspitch black; the only thing pelting light into the place was asmall crack in the doorway to my sister’s room. I shruggedoff my coat and threw my keys into the ceramic bowl I knewwas sitting somewhere on the shoe cabinet beside the door, theclink of keys and coins rattling softly in the dark.
Hit.
“Beth?” I called out, but my voice was drowned out by thesound of thunder crashing through the sky. “Beth, you busy?”
Hit.
Ever since my sister and I moved into this apartment, wehad fallen into a solid routine. I’d come home from my eveningshift at the gym and Beth would be in her room, buzzing withcaffeine from her third latte of the day as she writes up herlatest assignment. Sometimes, if my boyfriend, Jax, gets off
from training early, I’d find him perched on my bed, freshlyshowered and waiting for me with open arms.
That was the way it was supposed to be.
Hit.
I hadn’t anticipated getting off work early today, butone of my students had been a no-show and Julian told me Icould leave. So I did. Truthfully, I was grateful for class beingcancel ed since I was more than ready to have an early kickoffto the weekend. I wondered if Beth was up for it too. We couldorder takeout and put on Gilmore Girls like we always do.
Hit.
I approached my sister’s door, fist reaching up, ready toknock.
A soft moan drifted through the crack of the doorway,coupled with bed creaking noises.
My hand dropped to my side, suddenly feelingembarrassed. Beth never told me she was having a guy overtonight. She never has anyone over, really, so this was newfor me. I wished she’d text me first so I could give her someprivacy; she knew I’d be more than happy to give it to her. I’dusually shoot her something quick when Jax is over and wedesperately need some alone time. I decided to let it slide fornow. Maybe she’d tell me all about her mystery man later.
I began to inch away from the door.
But then . . . I heard it.
“Oh, Jax,” Beth moaned.
Shock paralyzed my body, forcing me to stumble backuntil my back collided against the wall.
HIT.
The squeaking immediately came to a halt. There weresounds of frantic shuffling and clothes being pulled on, andthen the door being flung wide open.
Jax was out first. Followed by Beth. Both looking shockedas hell.
Both looking guilty as hell.
I could feel the floor beneath me folding onto itself intoone huge, black sinkhole.
HIT. HIT. HIT.
Jax’s breathing was heavy and unsettled as he looked atme. I could feel my heart being cleaved wide open when hisgaze locked with mine.
“Princess,” he said softly and reached a hand out towardme. I recoiled from him, shaking my head. “Princess, wait—”
“How long?” I hurled out the first question that I couldstring together in my mind. I was surprised I was able to formwords at all.
Jax’s mouth hung open, no words falling out. Beth flinchedat my sharpness, and in that moment, I felt bad for her, theshame unfurling across her face making me falter. But then myfield of vision expanded and I saw the full, raw picture in frontof me—Jax in nothing but a flimsy blanket to cover himself.
Beth wearing a shirt that I recognize not to be hers.