Page 14 of Affinity

Color me shocked when I stepped into the kitchen to find a pot of coffee already made. I wasn’t sure where it came from, but I didn’t care. Swiveling my head from side to side, it looked as if I was alone. The sun was just coming up, so I poured myself a cup and went out to the backyard to enjoy the sunrise. I sat on a lounger as I watched the sky change from blue to orange and yellows. It was beautiful up on the hill, looking out over the city.

Movement to my left caught my eye. I turned to see a sweaty Reeves move through the house, stripping off his clothes as he made his way out into the backyard. By the time he reached the pool, he was only in his shorts, and I was sure that if I hadn’t been there, he would have been naked as he dove into the pool with barely a splash. I watched as his body glided through the water until he reached the other side. He came up and swiped his hair off his forehead, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the water that was dripping down his rippling chest. His biceps flexed as he used his arms to pull himself out of the pool.

I wiped my mouth, afraid I was drooling as he walked toward me in long strides. Even the way he walked was sexy. I knew in that moment I was in trouble.

“I see you found the coffee.” He nodded to my cup as water trailed slowly down his impeccable chest.

Tipping it toward him, I smiled. “I was afraid you didn’t have a coffeemaker, and you were going to see my bad side.”

He raised an eyebrow and let out a husky chuckle. “Yesterday wasn’t your bad side?”

“It’s not as bad as I can get, but it definitely wasn’t my best day either.” I wondered if the same could be said for him, but I kept my mouth closed. If he wanted me to know that information about him, he’d tell me himself.

“I’m going to get in a quick shower before Catherine shows up. She was probably up all night getting a statement ready, and I don’t want to endure her wrath if I don’t have to.”

I cocked my head to the side, not understanding. I wasn’t sure why she’d be mad at him if he hadn’t showered before she showed up. Catherine wasn’t unreasonable.

Watching as he moved to the other side of the house and into his bedroom, I noticed the walls of Reeves bathroom were glass. If I wanted to, I could watch him take a shower, but I wasn’t going to invade his privacy like that, no matter how hot it would be.

To keep myself away from temptation, I headed inside. I’d barely rinsed out my coffee cup when the doorbell rang. While the back of the house was all glass, the front looked like concrete. At least the people out on the street couldn’t see inside.

When I opened the front door, I was shocked to see three men with boxes in their arms and Catherine looking perfectly coiffed in designer jeans, a black blouse, and heels. Her makeup and hair were perfect, making me feel frumpy in yesterday’s clothes.

Reeves pulled the front door open wider and stepped out of the way. “Abbi, are you going to let them in or make them stand outside all day?”

I thought he was going to take a shower, and I’d get a slight reprieve from him.

Stepping back, I watched as the movers brought in my belongings. When they were finished after two trips, it made me realize how little I actually owned. Not that I needed a lot, but it was sad that my life could amount to so few boxes.

As the movers left, Catherine pulled two small velvet boxes out of her purse and placed them on the coffee table in the living room before she sat down and crossed her arms over her chest.

“You will wear them twenty-four-seven. If I see one picture where either of you is not wearing your ring, heads are going to roll. Do you understand?” She eyed Reeves as he ground his teeth together and glared at the boxes.

“Not a problem,” I quietly answered as she handed me the box with my ring in it.

As I slipped my wedding band on, I watched as Catherine and Reeves had a silent conversation I wasn’t privy too.

Pulling out a stack of papers, she handed them over to me. “This is all the paperwork you’ll need to fill out to change your name on your social security card, insurance, and driver's license plus a change of address.”

I hadn’t thought about what my last name would be, but what was the point if we were getting a divorce in a year.

Reeves grabbed his box off the table as he stood up and stomped out of the room.

Catherine watched him go before she let out a sigh. “I had a feeling he wouldn’t be happy once he realized this was all real. Please keep an eye on him, so he doesn’t do something stupid right now. I can’t put out another fire.”

With that, Catherine got up and left, leaving me wondering what had transpired during that silent conversation and if I would be able to stop Reeves if he was determined to fuck up his life.

Chapter Eight

Jenner

The thought of having a wedding ring on my left hand again didn’t sit well with me, even if it was to save my career. I knew once I put it on, I wouldn’t be able to take it off for an entire year, and the thought made me sick. Even though it had been over a year, I still wasn’t over Poppy’s cheating, her cleaning out the house we shared, or her drug addiction.

It made me wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t found her coke hidden in the bathroom. If I hadn’t been wallowing in self-pity for weeks on end, I might not have had the crazy idea to try what she couldn’t get enough of. One sniff and I was in trouble.

Heading outside to the back of the property, I stopped under an umbrella to look out at the city. I loved watching how the city moved day or night. Mostly at night.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. Pulling it out, I saw Alex’s name flash on the screen for probably the hundredth time in twenty-four hours. I didn’t want to talk to her, but I knew I couldn’t keep ignoring her, or she’d hop a plane and show up at my front door.

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