Page 32 of Bound To Me

I scoffed. “What did you say?”

I was sobering up real quick.

Elliott hesitated before he answered. “I told him to fuck off and if he came anywhere near you, I’d kill him. Then I hung up.”

My mouth dropped. I knew at that moment that I was in love with him.

“Thank you. Let me go get my things.”

Then

I continued to follow Michael, unsure of what I hoped to achieve. Maybe I wanted revenge, but I didn’t know how. What could I even do? I had nothing on him. Who would believe me if I tried to tell someone what he did? A part of me still loved him—a big part. He was all I had left, even if he hated me. I couldn’t imagine living without him because, in a twisted way, he was right—I would always be his.

He began leaving work with a beautiful blonde who always wore bold red lipstick. They would wait until they were a couple of blocks away before intertwining their fingers, a gesture he never showed me in public. They even went to his apartment together. My heart would leap into my throat as I spent hours waiting outside his building, only to realize she wasn’t leaving. What was so different about her? Was she the reason he grew tired of me? I planned on confronting her one day after work. I didn’t know when, but I would figure it out when the time came.

I had just sat down on a bench in Battery Park near his work when I saw her. She seemed to be waiting for someone as she looked around and then sat at a bench nearby. I couldn’t believe the opportunity had just laid itself out in front of me.

“Jackie.” His voice was already menacing.

I looked back and Michael was standing almost directly behind me.

“Sit back, Jackie. You don’t deserve to look at me.”

I obeyed and slowly sat back.

“Who is she?” I spit out, already angry and hurt and jealous.

He ignored me. “I told you to stop stalking me. Don’t think I don’t see you following me.”

I started to look back again, but he slammed his hand onto my shoulder, shoving me back into place with a forceful grip.

“Do not approach her. Do not talk to her. If you so much as look at her again, I will fucking kill you.”

I gasped, struggling to catch my breath between quiet sobs.

“Leavenow, Jackie.”

I immediately stood up as an attractive man approached Michael’s blonde and wrapped her in a hug. I paused, transfixed by the sight.

“Now!”

Tears continued to stream down my face as I walked away, unable to even glance at Michael. From the corner of my eye, I saw him lean against a tree, his gaze fixed intently on her.

I walked across the street and into Starbucks for a job interview. My plan was strategic; if I worked there, Michael couldn’t scold me for being in the area. With him no longer taking care of me, I had to start fending for myself again. I couldn’t give up on him just yet. Because if I couldn’t have him, then nobody could.

Now

I woke up in Elliott’s bed with a massive hangover. It took me a moment to piece together the events of the previous night. Fuck—Michael.

“Well, good morning, beautiful,” Elliott said, walking in with a coffee in hand. He leaned against the door frame, a warm smile spreading across his face.

“Good morning,” I croaked, my voice raspy and worn as if I’d smoked a thousand cigarettes the night before.

He sat on the bed beside me and started brushing back the hair in my face. “How are you feeling?”

I smiled and let out a laugh. “Like hell,” I admitted.

He gave me a slight frown as he paused. “Why didn’t you call me the second you heard from Michael?”

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