Page 87 of Desserts for Stressed People

“Enough,” Shane says as he takes a step forward. “Heaven asked you to go. Give her time to work through things before you say anything worse.”

He’s so controlled, so composed. He’s not trying to fight him, nor is he acting like I need his protection. To someone who didn’t know better, he’d look like he’s a friend to both of us.

“Oh, okay,” Alex says, taking a few steps toward him as he clenches his fists. Next to Shane, his beer belly is more evident. He looks smaller, thinner, weaker than usual. He looks unworthy of the time I wasted on him. “You want me to go? So you can stay and fuck my girlfriend in my home?”

“I’m not your girlfriend anymore.” When Alex turns to me with a grimace, I offer him his luggage. “And who I sleep with isn’t any of your concern. Now, please, go, because I’m not staying under the same roof as you for one more night.”

“Then you go.” He drops the luggage, which falls onto the side with a loud thump, then points to Shane. “You can stay at his apartment.”

Shane passes a hand over his face, and it looks like he’s about to talk, so I put my hand up to stop him. I appreciate him being there, but I don’t want him more involved than he already is. Especially not after he rejected my kiss back in the car.

But Shane Hassholm listens to nobody.

“Alex, is it?” he asks, joining my side but maintaining an appropriate distance. Alex’s stare is intense and fevered as it settles on him. “Nothing happened between Heaven and me. I’m her boss, and I’d like to think we’ve become good friends.” Alex’s fists stiffen, but before he can interject, Shane takes a step toward him. “I won’t stay here. And I know you have no reason to believe me, so...I’ll come down with you. I’ll help you with your suitcase. And then we’ll both go.” He glances at me, then focuses back on Alex. “I’m not trying to mess with you. Heaven needs to process everything, and staying will just make things worse. You need to respect her decision and leave.”

Alex pushes his shoulders back and approaches Shane. “I don’t need to do shit. But if you tell me what to do again, I’ll need to kick your ass.”

Shane looks down at him. Calm, wildly unimpressed. As if he has no intention of fighting him, which I thank God for. “All right. Then how about this,” Shane whispers. “The lease for this apartment is in Heaven’s name, and if you don’t leave immediately, I’ll call the police and have you removed from her property.” With a light grin, he continues, “Your choice.”

I steady myself against the wall, feeling the cold, hard surface against my sweaty palm, and a brand new sadness fills my chest. Shane and I haven’t even been on a date yet, and now he’s seen this. Me at my worst, screaming at a man who was supposed to love me and instead betrayed me.

When Alex looks at me in question, I nod. Yes, I will call the police if he doesn’t leave. Seeing as I’ve had to suffer because of this lease, I might actually enjoy the perks of having it in my name. Whatever, as long as he’s gone.

He turns to Shane again, but when he’s met by the coldest of glares, he steps back. I think he can see the same thing I’m seeing—it looks like Shane’s another word away from snapping Alex’s neck.

“Fine. I’ll go to my parents’ house and give you the night to calm down. I’ll call you tomorrow, and you’ll pick up the phone,” Alex says, only glancing my way before focusing back on Shane.

I don’t want to talk to him tomorrow. But more than anything, I want him to leave, so I quickly nod.

Shuffling his feet, he studies me like it’s the last time he’ll see me. The storm in his eyes is duller, weaker than usual, as he grabs his luggage. Once he walks, Shane follows him to the door, then glances at me for a few interminable seconds. I don’t know what his look means. It might be concern, or it might be pity.

Maybe he can see my heart is broken.

* * *

“His condom is stillon my bed.”

The first full sentence that comes out of my mouth, three hours later, gives me shivers.

Emma sits beside me, handing me a peppermint tea and rubbing her hand over my back, trying to soothe my hysterical sobs. “Shit, H. I’m so sorry. I was on a date and my phone was lodged at the bottom of my bag.”

“Em, it’s fine.”

She offers me her hand and drags me up. After walking into the kitchen without a word, she grabs a trash bag from the second drawer and a pair of green plastic gloves from the sink. Striding toward the bedroom, she motions at me to follow. “Let’s go.”

I follow her, and when I reach the bedroom, she’s holding out bag and gloves with an encouraging smile. “Unleash your inner neat freak.” Standing closer, she narrows her vibrant blue eyes. “Let. Her.Shine.”

With a lopsided grin, I grab the cleaning equipment. The gloves wrap around my skin, the smell of latex soothing me incredibly. I stare down at the bed, and after a deep breath, I shake my shock away.

No more hesitation.

I chuck the blanket into the trash bag, then do the same with the pillow covers and the duvet I like so much. I probably could wash it, but who knows just how many bodily fluids it’s stained with and from how many people.

“Are you keeping the mattress?” Emma asks once my bed is completely naked.

A half-hearted laugh makes its way out of my lips. I’m not throwing out a perfectly good mattress only because my boyfriend used it to sleep with other women. “Of course.”

“Shall we flip it, then?”

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