Page 89 of Frankie and the Fed

“We aren’t a couple if I’m not equal to him. If he lies to me and hides things from me. A couple shares things with each other.”

“What else did he lie to you about?”

I tell her about the tenant I found in the apartment below. “He never kept the apartment for me. The guy who lives there continued the lease for another year.”

“Ugh, Ethan,” she grumbles. “I apologize on his behalf. I don’t know what’s going on with him. I have no excuses.”

“You don’t need to make excuses on his behalf. That’s not why I’m here.” I smile at her. “I wanted a place to gather my thoughts, and it turns out I don’t have an apartment to do that.”

She twists her mouth again. “Well, you can stay here as long as you want. What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know what to do, Olive.” My voice breaks.

“Do you want to be with him?”

I nod. “I love him. From the moment we met.”

“He loves you. I’m sure of it. I can see it in everything he does. He’s crazy about you.”

“But maybe love isn’t enough.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t believe that. A love like yours must be enough. Otherwise, what’s left for us in this world?” She leans in and gives me a hug. “I going to call him,” she says.

“I already tried. His phone is dead. I don’t know where he is.”

“Okay, so we’ll let him come to us. He can’t be without you for long.” She laughs.

This is true. I can’t be without him, either.

We put a chick flick on the TV, and I try to dismiss the thoughts that scare me so much. That maybe it’s over between us.

CHAPTER37

Ethan

“Ayala! No!!” I scream when I see her lifeless body under another man.

Blood.

There’s blood everywhere. It flows from her onto the floor and out of the room. I follow it down the hall to the bathroom.

No. Not the bathroom… The door opens slowly, making a terrifying squeaking sound as I approach.

Drip. Drip. The sound of running water makes me shiver. I want to turn and run away, not see what’s inside, but my legs carry me on their own. I can’t stop staring at the red puddle of water and blood.

The dead woman in the bathtub opens her big blue eyes.

I scream.

My lashes flicker, and my eyes open, but I squint as I try to get used to the dim light in the room and regulate my heavy breathing.

Luckily it’s Saturday, and no one can see the big boss crying like a baby on the couch in the office.

How did I get into this situation? Why am I here instead of in my bed? I can’t sleep without her.

Oh yes, I stuck my cock into another woman. Why did I have to do that? Fuck. It was a mistake from the first moment, and now this mistake could cost me the love of my life. I can’t lose Ayala. I just can’t. I tried to let her go, let her find someone less screwed up than me. I tried not to hurt her but failed even this.

I go back to our apartment, hoping we can talk and work things out. I open the door, waiting to see her beautiful face, but she’s not here. Super fuck. I have to talk to her. Explain. She’s my whole life.