Page 112 of For Wrath and Redemption
I force a smile. “You’re not good at compromise.”
Finally, she smiles back. It’s small and tired, but it’s there. “I’m really not.”
“I’m going to text Torren and bail.”
She puts her hand over my phone before I can even type out a text. “No. Go. I’ll be fine. I have work to do, and I refuse to let that asshole derail me.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I’m sure.” She kisses me once. “Thank you, though.”
“If you need me, call Torren. I’m turning my phone off in case my dad tries to call again.”
“Okay. I’ll see you tonight.”
30
CLAIRE
I’m pushingthe button for the elevator when Mabel steps up beside me.
“Hey. You heading to the gym too?”
I smile at her. She’s holding a bright pink water bottle and wearing leggings, a tank top, and a pair of pink sneakers. I nod. “You going to join me today?”
“Looks like it. Don’t you and Jonah usually go early?”
We step into the elevator together, and she pushes the button for the gym.
“Yeah, but it’s our rest day. He went to brunch with the guys.”
“You don’t look like you’re resting.”
I laugh. “I had a very stressful phone call and need to burn off some frustration.”
“Ah.” She nods and flares her eyes. “Same, actually.”
We step into the gym together and both head to the treadmills.
“Want to talk about it?” I ask as I throw my towel over the bar and put my water bottle in the cup holder. “I’m a good listener.”
Mabel flashes me a sardonic grin. “It’s just relationship stuff. My girlfriend...” She shakes her head and shrugs. “She’s not exactly out, and it’s hard for me keeping things on the DL.”
I train my eyes on my treadmill screen and nod slowly.
“I can understand that,” I tell her. “I’ve been there. Not with someone who wasn’t out, but just in a relationship that had to be kind ofsecretive. Kind of fun at first, I guess. But it loses the appeal pretty quickly.”
“Yeah, and this is definitely losing its appeal. But what can I do? I love her. I’d rather be with her in secret than not at all.”
I bite my cheek on the urge to cry. I can hear the sadness in Mabel’s tone despite her attempt to sound upbeat. I hear it, and I recognize it. I hate that I was ever that person. I hate even more that I still am. Out of one dirty little secret situation and right into another one.
Fuck, what am I doing?
What can I do? I love her.
What can I do?
Do I love Jonah? Do I even know what love is? I thought I felt it in high school, and I was wrong. I thought I felt it in college, and I was wrong. I tried to force it with Conrad, and that was the worst decision I’ve ever made.
