Page 26 of Deeper

Her next response was a nude topless photo while she wore skimpy underwear. She was a gorgeous woman, tempting, and he’d taken the bait with ease.

My throat started to close up on me.Oh.

Iwas just “business,” Miami305 was his pleasure. Roderick had lied—again. This was just a means to get me back roped in; he hadn’t any intention on cutting his side-pieces free. He just wanted me around, home in bed waiting up for him while he freely roamed the streets until he was good and ready for me.

Suddenly my stomach felt full and I was nauseous.

I left the phone on the table as I stood to my feet, beelining for the front door.

“Hey! Where you going?” Rod had a hold of me, he’d been on his way back from the wine room with Marion.

One look at me and he became concerned, Marion too.

“I’m leaving,” I informed Rod, trying to stay strong and not cause a scene. It felt likeCLOWNwas tattooed to my forehead.

Rod stood back, dubious. “What’s going on? I thought we were going to talk.”

I stepped back. “Talk to Miami305.”

Recognition was quick to take over Rod, and Marion sensing our lover’s quarrel, was smart enough to walk away and help another table of his.

A muscle in Rod’s jaw flexed as he released a breath through his nose. “Why would you do that?”

“Because you lied to me, just like you always do!”

“What? Was I supposed to cut everybody off when I wasn’t even sure what type of time you were on?” he shot back, defensive.

Was he serious? He’d made actual plans to go and fuck another woman as soon as he was finished getting back into my good graces.

Did I deserve this? Was I so awful that I deserved to be walked out on or walked all over? Was I so unlovable that this was my life?

As if my heart could break any further, I felt it tear deep in my chest. All I had ever done was try with Rod. I’d loved him as honestly and as affectionately as possible. And yet, there was always somebody else. He was too greedy to keep his dick in his pants. Too much of a coward to love me right.

“Fuck you, that’s the type of time I’m on forever!” I shoved him away, going and making my way past the hostess podium.

Rod didn’t follow and I didn’t care. There was nothing that could cut me deeper.

With my pride and my heart even more severed, I got an Uber and went back to my apartment, alone.

6

TONIGHT

There wasn’t much to do Friday night. After a long day at work, I came home and undressed and pulled on a night shirt, tempted to just lounge around and watch something online. Victoria had to work for the night anyway.

I was surfing Netflix when my phone rang. Probably Rod’s next attempt of trying to get a hold of me, andlie, lie, lieagain.

Never again. For the rest of my life, I’d be deaf to him. Lesson learned. Don’t pull back the Band-Aid, because of course there’s still a scar there; you’re wearing a Band-Aid to begin with.

I rolled my eyes as I gathered my phone, ready to just block him once and for all.

There was no need. Roderick wasn’t calling me. Zander was.

Immediately, I sat up in bed and did a double take. That same number,213-555-0112, from Monday, was calling me.

“Hello?” I picked up at the last minute, wondering what was going on.

“Hi,” Zander said simply.

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