Page 76

The doorman saw me step out and quickly came over. It was as if my legs had quit on me, and I could barely walk to the doors.
“Miss Durall,” he said, gently taking my arm. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Fine. I just need to go.”
“You can’t go out there like this,” he said softly, his eyes filled with concern.
“Please. I’m fine.”
“At least, let me get you a cab.”
I nodded and let him lead me to the doors. He scoured the streets for a yellow car that would take me away from here. From whatever had just happened or was about to happen upstairs. He spotted one across the street and held his hand up. The cab made a U-turn and pulled up to the curb.
I heard the doors open behind me, and I knew they were Troy’s footsteps approaching. Without even turning around, I yanked the cab door open and slid quickly inside, slamming the door, but not before hearing Troy yell my name.
“Go. Please, just go,” I told the cab urgently.
I had seen this film before. It had played out weeks ago. Leaving Troy on the curb after he had broken my heart. This would be the last time.
Chapter 34
Troy
Iyelled Monica’s name again, as if she could hear me, until I watched the cab turn the corner and disappear from view. My breath disappeared from my lungs as if someone had punched me in the gut. I couldn’t shake the look that was on Monica’s face as she stood in my apartment just now. There was so much hurt that it made me ache. I almost hailed a cab to go after her, but I wouldn’t know how to explain what she just walked in on. I didn’t know myself, but I was about to find out.
I looked up at my apartment building, knowing Veronica was on the top floor, and my anger began to pool in my stomach. Anger at her. Anger at myself. It was my fault she was here.
At my parents’ party, she had spilled a glass of white wine down the front of her dress. She made a big scene and had everyone doting on her. Everyone except me. Yet, she still insisted I take her back to my place, which was only a block away, so she could change. I told her no, but she put up a fuss. I didn’t want her taking away any more attention from my parents’ big night, so I gave in.
We walked the block to my apartment, Veronica gabbing away as if she had forgotten all about her ruined dress she had just been fretting about. I remained quiet, and let her own words entertain her.
Up in my apartment, she spun around slowly as if taking it in.
“God, I haven’t been here in forever,” she said.
She had lived there with me when we got married, but I had it renovated since she left. I couldn’t leave the view, but I didn’t want anything that reminded me of her or our failed marriage, so the place was gutted.
“I hardly recognize it,” she said.
“I made a few changes, since—”
“You left me,” said Veronica softly.
“I didn’tleaveyou. I made a decision that was best for the both of us. It just wasn’t a decision you liked.”
She walked to where I stood near the entryway and draped her arms over my shoulders, her eyes on mine like a huntress.
“We had some pretty good times though, didn’t we?” she asked, pressing her body against mine. I could feel the dampness of her dress seeping against my suit.
“Veronica…” I started.
She stood on her tiptoes and grazed her lips against my ear.
“Like when you could have me any way you wanted,” she whispered.
Her hands trailed down my back and around to my stomach, moving down. Lower.
“You could still have that,” she whispered, her fingers grazing against me through the material of my pants. “I want that.”