Page 32 of Dangerous Curves

“It means that I think you’ve cheated on me as well.”

Ronin growls in frustration. “I told you they were just stories the tabloids made up to sale magazines.”

“And I believed you...most of the time. But when I showed up here for you and I walked in on you in bed naked with a model, it made me question things.” Now, it’s my turn to glare at him.

He throws his hands up in the air like he gives up. Clearly, he’s frustrated. “I was at work. You seriously got so upset by that little moment of nothing that you cheated on me with some nobody?”

My anger fires up at his reference to Jaxx as a nobody. He has no right to say something like that about anyone, especially Jaxx. He doesn’t even know him. This is a prime example of how Ronin sees the world. “That wasn’t a little moment to me. The way you acted in that room was embarrassing Ronin. You talked to me like I was trash but I get it. I let you do it. This thing with Jaxx wasn’t planned. It just happened. We happened to be at the same place at the same time.”

“How convenient,” he spits out. “I’m sure he’s innocent and didn’t set out to take what’s mine.”

I stand up, my anger rising. “What’s yours? I’m not yours, Ronin. I’m not an object to be owned. I’m a person and I have feelings and things that matter to me, but I wouldn’t expect you to notice that because if it doesn’t revolve around you and what you want then it doesn’t matter right?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” He runs a lazy hand through his dirty blonde hair.

I shake my head in disgust. “How did you know where I was?”

“I called your mother,” he says with a roll of his eyes.

“When?” I ask.

Ronin scoffs. “What does that matter?”

“Just answer the question.”

He rolls his eyes again, treating me as if I’m acting like a little kid. “A couple of hours ago.”

A sarcastic laugh falls from my mouth. “It took you ten hours to realize I wasn’t at the hotel last night. Then you called me a few times until I turned my phone off which I’m sure you knew but what did you think last night? Did you ever wonder if I was okay? Did it matter to you at all?”

He steps towards me, but I step back. His actions and lack of compassion disgusts me. “I knew you were fine.”

“No, you didn’t. You just couldn't be bothered to actually find out where I was last night.” Ronin opens his mouth to speak but I hold up my hand to silence him. “Let’s just cut the shit. There’s no point in lying to one another anymore. This wasn’t a relationship. It was more like an extended one-night stand. You’ve cheated and I cheated and at the end of the day, neither of us was fully satisfied with the other. You wanted to be something else and to be honest, I wanted you to be someone else. We’ve been unfair to one another and it’s time to do what should have been done months ago. I’m sorry I didn’t do it before. I’m sorry I avoided you and for any possible hurt I might have caused by cheating on you but we’re done.” I don’t think I hurt him with my actions. He didn’t exactly love me and so far, he just seems upset that I cheated on him with someone he deems beneath him.

Ronin’s nostrils flare in anger. His hazel eyes are merely slits. “You’re breaking up with me? Who do you think you are? I can replace you with the snap of my fingers.”

“Good, then you should do that. Good luck with everything. Bye Ronin.” I turn around and walk away. Ending the arrangement between Ronin and I was long overdue. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I ride the elevator up to the floor our room is on. When I get to the door, I realize I don’t have a key so I knock and wait.

Twenty-Nine

Jaxx

Walking away from Kenndrix, leaving her with Ronin, while so much is still uncertain feels like Deja vu again. I hate that she’s not beside me as I make my way to the elevators. Her scent isn’t filling the small space inside. My hand isn’t wrapped around hers. We had one perfect day and maybe that’s all we’ll get, but I hate that thought. My gut painfully twists. The urge to go back down and claim her as mine, as if I’m some kind of caveman, is overwhelming, but I can’t chase her down. If she wants me then she’ll choose me. My head falls back against the wall of the elevator. God, please let her choose me. I can’t lose her again.

By the time I make it to the room, I’ve ran at least ten different scenarios in my head. However, none of these scenarios give me the ending I’d want. I’m thinking the worst and I need to stop that. I fish my cell phone from my pocket and dial the last person I spoke to. “Would you please shut the hell up?” I hear Kosi say although it’s slightly muffled like she’s trying to cover the mouthpiece, but failing miserably. I hear a deep chuckle. Kosi practically growls. “Hello.” Her tone sounds stressed.

“Are you okay?”

“Jaxx?” she asks.

I laugh. “Yeah, who else did you think it would be?”

“It’s been a long day. So, how was the red carpet?” she asks, just before yawning.

I check the time. I didn’t realize it was so late. It’s slightly earlier in Los Angeles, but still pretty late. “I didn’t wake you, did I?”

“Oh, no, I’m still at work. The system went down today and stayed that way all day. So, every appointment I made I had to handwrite and just as we were getting ready to leave the tech guy got everything up and running which means, I had to sit back down and key all the appointments into the system.” She explains everything in one breath. “Oh, and Roscoe, Bowie’s friend is an annoying ass.”

“Really? He’s always been pretty chill and funny when I’ve been around him.” I think back to the few times I’ve been to the same event as him. Most of them are the James’ family gatherings or street racing nights.