Page 94 of The Bitter Rival

Once I’ve changed into lounge pants and a white cotton T-shirt, I wish Austin a goodnight and start to make my way back to the front room when I notice Bella is lying on her side, facing me in that unforgettable pink satin nightgown I remember so well. I stop in my tracks and watch as she lifts the covers. My heart is in my throat as she slowly brings herself to the edge of the bed and stands. My mouth goes dry as she carefully slinks in my direction. God, this woman. As she makes her way toward me, I look into her deep brown eyes just before the door closes, and I hear the latch click shut.

Dropping my head, I make my way back to the den, cursing myself.What did I think was going to happen?

Night after night, I take up residency on the couch and pray things will get better between us. I fear if I leave, she’ll never let me back in. I attempt to surprise her by ordering Luigi’s take-out tonight, so she won’t have to cook when she comes home. Austin is excited he’ll be getting baked spaghetti.

Charlie drops by around 7:10 p.m. with our take-out order, Boomerang in tow. When I tell Austin he has a visitor, his face lights up the way he does when he’s happy. I tell him we’ll have to wait on spaghetti until his mom comes home, and we set the table for the three of us in anticipation of her arrival.

Bella arrives twenty minutes later, appearing surprised but not overly happy about my gesture. Is she completely sick of me now? She hasn’t asked me to leave.

“You two go ahead and eat. I’m going to change,” she says and hurries down the hall.

I hate eating without her, but if I hold Austin back from this spaghetti much longer, there will be hell to pay. Opening the containers, I spoon an oversized serving for Austin and one for myself and place them on the table. I turn to him with a plate of salad and watch the shine in his eyes dim. “I know. I’m not happy about it either, but you know this will make your mom happy,” I say.

About that time, Bella steps back into the main room, looking beautiful. She’s dressed in a short black cocktail dress wearing shiny black heels, holding a small clutch. She walks over to Austin and kisses him on the head before turning to grab her coat.

“You’re leaving?”

“Yes. I have plans.”

“I got us dinner.”

“No one asked you to. Austin, if you need anything, Margaret said she’ll be home all night.”

“I’m right fucking here,” I bark.

“Mom doesn’t like fucking,” Austin says.

I abruptly stop myself from correcting him, that she does, in fact, like fucking, knowing that could get me kicked out for good. “Where are you going?” My voice is admittedly too loud.

“It’s none of your business.”

I look back at her, my mouth hanging wide open. I’m speechless.

“No one asked you to come here, Sebastian.”

I can feel steam pour from my ears I’m so hot. Nearly snapping the chair in half as I watch her exit, I ask Austin, “Do you know where she’s going?”

“I think she has another date.”

I quickly make it to the door in time to see Jeff open the car door for her.Fuck me.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-SEVEN

Sebastian

It’s been over two hours since Bella left. I tried to hang out with Austin in his room, but my anger was getting the best of me, and I just needed to be alone. I considered searching her place for alcohol or calling Charlie to make a scotch delivery, but Austin is here. Even if Margaret would be available all night, I couldn’t do that.

I opt instead for a shower. This will easily kill an hour. My initial attempts to get into the shower are fruitless. I’m so fucking livid it’s causing me to be unsafe. I finally lower myself into the bathtub and bathe that way, letting the shower water hit my head from above to rinse the shampoo from my hair when I’m done.

Trying to get out of the tub is a whole other challenge.Hell, I may die in here.I lay my head back on the porcelain and stare up at the ceiling. Is this pointless? Should I just call Charlie and head home once she returns? How much torture can I live with? She’s made her point. I’ve tried to apologize. If I ever make it out of this tub alive, I need to go before I say something else in front of Austin I might regret.

After multiple attempts, I manage to get myself to the edge of the tub and up onto my two feet. I’m exhausted. I hope I have enough energy to make it back to the bed… I mean, couch. Stumbling down the hall, I notice Austin’s gone to bed before I could tell him goodnight. Looking at him brings a smile to my face, despite the shitty night I’ve had.

I slowly clomp down the hall with my braces, stopping to gather my strength just outside Bella’s bedroom door when I notice she’s already home and in bed. Suddenly, she rolls over in my direction. I can’t even look at her. Did Jeff kiss her goodnight?Fuck, I’ve never even kissed her goodnight.My anger starts to bubble over, and I forcefully pick up my feet, heading back to the front room when I hear her.

“Bas?”

I stop. Waiting for more, I force myself to look straight ahead. I’m tired of her fucking with me.

---