I make my way out of the bathroom to go find out why Conn decided not to stay in bed with me and who the heck is here so early in the morning. I freeze in the hallway at the sound of the woman’s voice. This time I know for sure who it is. Trish. I stand frozen. How did she find me? No way would Nora have told her where I was.
“You are a handsome thing aren’t you?” Trish says in her sweet honey tone voice that always has men falling all over her. I once thought it was funny how she could get them to do anything for her. Right now, all I feel is red hot rage. I may not have been mad when I found out about her and my ex, but Conn is different. He’s mine and no one is taking him from me. I mean, I want to have sex with him and she’s not beating me to it. You know, the revenge sex that I’ve been talking about.
I stomp down the hallway, trying to sound as loud as Conn does when he walks normally down it but I know I’m nowhere as loud. They both turn to look my way. Trish’s eyes go wide for a moment when she sees me, reminding me of what I’m wearing. My eyes flick to Conn, who has his arms folded over his chest. I thought I was mad. But he looks livid. I glance back to my stepsister but my eyes can’t help but notice all the Christmas decorations. My hands come to my mouth as I take it all in. He must have stayed up all night doing this.
“I don’t like her,” Conn says.
“Did you do all this?” I motion to the Christmas stuff.
“Yes.” He drops his arms as he turns more toward me. He’s behind the breakfast bar, using it to keep space between Trish and him. I know somehow he’s done this on purpose. “She brought that fuck face with her.” I know immediately that Conn is talking about Ben. My ex. Is that jealousy I hear in his voice? I’ll have to explore that later once I figure out what the hell these two fools are doing here.
“Is he still alive?” I gasp. Conn wanted to snap his neck the other night. I would not put it past him. Suddenly, I’m hit hard with the truth of what’s going on here. Conn is rough around the edges. Still, he cooked for me, watched Christmas movies with me, decorated his home, got me a tree, and refused to let anyone take me from here. He even got pissed when he thought someone hurt me. He also gave me the greatest pleasure of my life. He doesn’t want to fuck me. He might be calling it that but Conn wants to keep me. I also have to admit to myself that I don’t want revenge sex, I want him, all of him.
“He won’t let him in!” Trish stomps her foot, pointing her perfectly painted nail at Conn. “I thought he wanted me alone at first.” She glares at Conn, having figured out her games aren’t going to work on him.
“Yeah. I didn’t want any witnesses when I snap your neck.”
I bite my lip to keep from laughing. Trish gasps.
“He just threatened me!” Trish looks to me. “I’m calling the cops. Get your things.”
“I didn’t hear him threaten you.”
“Leave George alone. He doesn’t need you calling him this early. His wife just had a baby and he’ll only come out here to tell you what I already told you.” He stares dead at Trish. “Get the fuck off my land.”
“Get your things, Faith,” Trish snips at me.
“My control isn’t great. I’m about two seconds from going outside and doing what I’ve been itching to do since you pulled down my drive.”
“He’s not worth it.” I walk over to Conn, putting my hand on his arm. I feel him relax at my touch.
“Faith! We’re leaving.” Trish butts in again.
“I left home for a reason.” I turn my glare on her, no longer feeling like I have to be nice. Conn might be rubbing off on me some. I think it’s a good thing. “I don’t know how you found me to begin with!” I half shout. I didn’t tell anyone where I was going for a reason. “Ben is freaking half stalking me. You’re blowing up my phone. Hence why I left and told no one where I was going.”
“You shared your location when you posted your picture to Instagram.” Oh. It can do that? Oops. “And Benjamin is not stalking you.” Trish rolls her eyes. I walk over, finding my phone. I power it on and slide it across the island for her.
“Look at his texts.” I watch her face turn red as she reads through them. All the I’m sorries and he wants me back. He kept messaging me that he didn’t want to be with Trish. He thought he loved her but it’s me he really wants. That Trish had set everything up. She wanted me to fall in love with him and then have him break my heart. That he’d agreed to it because he thought he was in love with Trish but soon learned it was me that he wanted. He only went along with it in hopes of making Trish jealous but in the end he’d fallen for me. It is all a bunch of crap that was crafted by two mean-spirited people. They took my trust for granted and now they can take their butts off of Conn’s land. I’m not leaving. There’s nothing left for me back there. Somehow I know that my future is here with Conn.