Page 118 of Fervency Love

“Can we talk?”

I glance around nervously, making sure nobody sees us.

“What about, Roger? This is not the best idea.”

“Listen, are you still with Ve?”

“Yes. Why are you even asking?”

“Let him know he needs to chill out and drop it.”

“Drop what?” I’m beginning to feel anxious.

“You don’t know?”

“What don’t I know about?”

“He’s been loitering around my house a couple of times. From what I gather, he and his buddies are planning to beat us up. For you.”

“What the fuck? This is too much. Fucking childish!”

“I’m just saying how it is, Abigail. Right. I won’t stop you anymore. You look gorgeous, by the way.” He walks off, leaving me in shock.

This has to be some kind of misunderstanding. I’m too drunk to talk to Connor right now.

We’re home before two. I don’t remember a thing more. I pass out.

The next day I recall what Roger told me. I don’t want to talk about it, though. I feel too good. We’ve been so great with each other lately.

Ve leaves. I clean up the house, thinking about what Roger said. What’s wrong with Connor? Why is he so obsessed with Roger and Ralph?

It’s four in the afternoon when the intercom buzzes. It’s Ve. He walks in, kisses me briefly, and I can already tell his mood has changed again. Something’s wrong. Whenever he leaves, something destructive happens.

“What’s happening, Ve?”

“What do you mean?” he grumbles.

“I don’t know. Your energy has changed. I can sense it. What’s the matter?”

“I don’t know if I want to talk about it, Abby.”

“If it’s something that made you feel bad, you should tell me.”

“You’re still attracted to Roger, aren’t you?” he spits.

Jesus, this can’t be happening.

“Oh, God, you’re asking seriously?

“Why would I joke about that?”

“Ve, I already told you hundreds of times. I don’t have a crush on him. There was Ralph and Mark after him. And what the hell are you talking about anyway?”

“I don’t know. People say you ogled him all the time at the club. And you talked to him. Ted said you looked at him like you wanted to suck him off.”

“Let’s make this clear once and for all, Connor. Firstly, I don’t fucking care what your idiot friend Ted says. It’s another desperate attempt to break us up. Remember? They already did that once. You defended them back then, too. I have absolutely no influence on what you want to believe, but I don’t understand why you let them manipulate you like that. They’re pulling your strings because they’re pissed that I ‘took you from them’.”

“Bullshit.”

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