Page 10 of LOT 62

“I promise,” Devon agreed again, kissing my neck. “I might fuck everything else up, but I refuse to fuck us up.”

Good. That was something I could get behind.

Devonkepttohispromise all week. He came home at a reasonable time, we had dinner together every night, and we had more sex than we’d had in months. My heart was happy, I was happy, and my cock was definitely happy.

But then they got swamped at work again, and Devon went back to his previous ways.

Monday night, he didn’t get home until nine. I waited around all night for him, stewing in frustration. He didn’t even answer the texts I sent.

Tuesday was the same. We texted a bit, but at seven, I called him and he told me he’d still be a few more hours. I just went to bed at ten and pretended to be asleep when he got home. I heard his apology, but I acted like I didn’t.

On Wednesday, my anger hit higher levels. He finally came home just before bed, but I was already in a shitty mood by that point. We fought a bit, sat in awkward silence on the couch, and then he went to bed and I stayed on the couch.

Thursday night, he actually came home in time to hang out for a bit. He talked about how busy they were at work, and I told him about the job site we were working on. We tried to have sex, but it wasn’t the right mood, so we went to bed frustrated. Again.

It was almost the end of the workday on Friday, and Devon had been messaging me a bit throughout the day. He said he was going to try to get out of there early so we could go to my mom’s for dinner, but he wasn’t sure of a time yet.

“What’re you all pissy about?” Tom asked me.

“I’m not.”

“Trouble in paradise?” Jeff asked.

They could both fuck right off and out of my paradise. None of their business. I ignored them, stewing in my mood. Yeah, there was trouble in paradise because it didn’t feel like paradise when I sat at home waiting for him all the time. I was sick of it. Did I need Devon by my side all the time? Hell no, but it pissed me off that he sometimes forgot about me like I meant nothing to him. It hurt. I never thought I’d be the type to get attached to another person, especially after everyone but my brother fucked me over my whole life, but I was. I was attached to Devon. I craved his company and missed him when he wasn’t around. I just wanted to spend time with him. Was that so much to ask?

I knew he’d been having a busy week, but when I saw Xavi and Nate last night when I got home and Devon wasn’t there, it wedged that blade in deeper. Hechosenot to come home that early, and I started to think he just preferred working over spending time with me. He was all adamant he didn’t want to lose me, constantly telling me I didn’t come second to anything, but words were one thing and his actions weren’t adding up.

I was sick of feeling like a needy little bitch. I decided to text him. Better to get the letdown over with now if he wasn’t going to be home. I didn’t much care for texting, but he was right. At least it gave me the chance to talk to him a bit throughout the day.

Maddox:You gonna be home on time tonight?

“You should come with us to the tractor pull in Shelton tonight,” Jeff offered. “A bunch of us are going. Heidi is coming, too. Just come for a beer and to get out of the house, man.”

“I can’t. I gotta wait for Devon and then go to my mom’s,” I said, feeling like an idiot because Devon probably wouldn’t even show up, and I’d skip my mom’s dinner because I was in a bad mood.

“Bring Devon,” Tom offered.

“He’ll probably be late getting home.” It was an auto-reply, and it made no sense. It contradicted my reason for not going, but it was too late to take it back now.

“So come with us! Devon can meet us there.” Tom laughed.

My phone pinged.

Dipshit Devon:Might be a little late tonight, but I’m off tomorrow.

My heart broke or some stupid shit like that. Of course he’d be late. There wasn’t a race at the track this weekend, so we didn’t have to go anywhere, but I still wanted to see him tonight. Instead, I’d spend my night waiting around for him, getting more and more angry as the clock ticked.

“Fuck it. I’ll come.” It was better than the alternative.

I called my mom to say I wouldn’t make dinner, but she didn’t seem to care. I’d let Devon know, and he could show up if he wanted. For once, I was doing something for me. A one-night break from sitting at home like a dog waiting for his master.

6

-Devon-

Iknewenoughtofeel guilty. I was way later getting home than I should have been. I meant to leave at seven, but by the time I locked up and left, it was after nine. I did it for good reasons, though. I was trying to get ahead on a few jobs so I’d have the whole weekend free to spend with Maddox. I rushed home in a blur, excited to see him. I’d missed that asshole all week, even though most of it was my fault.

But he wasn’t home.

---