Minutes later, I pulled through the gate outside her property and got out of the car. I wasn’t obligated to take her home or walk her to the door, but it was almost two in the morning, and I wanted to make sure she got through the door safe and sound.
She ran her fingers through her hair to tidy up the mess while her clutch was tucked under her arm. She moved to the front door then turned to look at me. Heartbeats passed as she stared, her thoughts a mystery.
I expected an annoying conversation about our relationship, an interrogation about what I wanted. My feelings hadn’t changed; I’d just had a slipup. If she asked me, I would tell her that, but I’d rather she didn’t.
She sighed before she spoke, like she was going to give a long-winded speech. “Thanks for the ride.” She turned around and walked inside without saying goodbye. She didn’t even turn around to look at me before she shut the door.
I continued to linger in front of the door, surprised by the way she’d dismissed me. She didn’t ask for anything, and she didn’t expect anything. She seemed to have used me even more than I’d used her. It took me a few seconds to process her indifference before I finally walked away.
24
Sofia
As hard as it was for me, I didn’t contact Hades.
I knew I should seem indifferent toward him, because the less I cared, the more it bothered him. Watching me get free drinks all night shattered his resolve, and he ended up exactly where I wanted him.
So I had to keep going.
That was exactly the way I’d behaved before he asked me to marry him…the first time. So, if I ever didn’t know what to do, I referred to the past for guidance. The old me would use him unapologetically. I wouldn’t care about leaving my panties next to a dumpster, and I would shut the door in his face once his services were completed.
I just hoped it worked.
It was hard to behave this way when it contradicted my feelings. I didn’t want to play games; I didn’t want to act like he meant nothing to me. Being with him only reminded me how much I loved him, how much I wished I could go home with him and be his wife again.
I missed it so much.
But this was working, and I had to see it through. I couldn’t wonder about the other women he must be seeing. I couldn’t think about where he was every night. I had to keep my eyes on the prize and not get distracted by the obstacles in my way.
It was almost two weeks before he called me.
I was home in my room with Andrew when he called. Andrew was on a blanket on the floor while I sat in a chair and watched him lie on his stomach and examine his toys. I thought being a mother would be hard, but it was a lot of quiet time. Maybe that would change when he became a toddler.
I stared at the phone for a while before I answered. I acted like a completely different person with him because my behavior didn’t reflect my true self at all. “You want to take Andrew for a couple of days?” I was proactive and made the subject the one thing we had in common. It showed I wasn’t interested in talking about our night in the alleyway—even though it was all I thought about.
He was quiet for a while, as if he were taken aback by my comment. “Yeah, I think I should.”
I hid my disappointment. “You want to pick him up? Or would you rather me drop him off? I’m on my way out anyway.” I didn’t have plans. I never had plans. I spent all my time with Andrew because the idea of dating was disheartening. I already knew the man I wanted to spend my life with. No other guy could compare.
“If you’re leaving, may as well drop him off.” His deep voice lacked any emotion. He was the strong and silent type, but ever since we’d gone our separate ways permanently, he was even more of an enigma.
“Alright. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
I had to quickly throw on my makeup and fix my hair because I’d been in my pajamas before he called. I threw on a deep navy blue dress and pumps before I got Andrew in the car and drove to Hades’s place. My attire would suggest I had specific plans for the evening. Maybe that would make him jealous again. Maybe that would make him drop his pants again.
I arrived at his place then carried Andrew and the bag to the third floor. I did all of it barefoot because it would be way too hard in heels. When I made it to the top landing, I slipped on my heels again and knocked on his bedroom door.