Page 29 of His Temptation

“Cason…” His hand brushed my arm before withdrawing, as if he’d wanted to stop me but changed his mind. “Take care of yourself.”

I looked at him, hating the way he made me feel. Rejected.

“Yeah. You too.”

And then I left the room.

Later that night, I was back at home, in my own bed, and trying to drown out Steve’s stupid-ass voice by shoving earbuds into my ears and blasting my favorite music playlist. My mom hadn’t even noticed me being gone last night and most of the day. When I’d come through the door a while ago, she had looked up from the TV, lost interest, and went back to her show.

Nohow was your dayorwhere were you last night.

Maybe it was because I felt lonely or maybe I had just hit the max on myI don’t give a shitmeter, but I clicked on the hookup app and went to my inbox, typing out a message to Emery before I could overthink it.

Me:Are we ever gonna talk again?

It showed he’d seen the message, and I waited for a response. And kept waiting. When fifteen minutes passed and I still hadn’t heard back from him, I sat up in bed and rubbed the tense muscles at the back of my neck.

I couldn’t talk to my best friend about my newfound feelings, and the one person Icouldtalk to wouldn’t respond to me. The stress and depression had really gotten to me, both mentally and physically.

Then, my phone pinged.

LiamC:Idk what to say. I thought we made it clear we’d forget it happened.

Me:You said that. Not me.

I wanted to tell him I needed a friend. That I wanted to know I wasn’t alone in this. He’d been where I was now and could relate. So even though I wanted him to throw me on the bed and screw me senseless, I also wanted someone to freaking talk to who wouldn’t judge me.

LiamC:I’m sorry. But it’s for the best.

I stubbornly held on to hope.

Me:Ryan told me you’re working on a big case right now.

I was grasping at straws for things to say. I didn’t want to be alone in my head right now.

LiamC:I am.

Me:Your client’s the guy all over the news, right? The one they’re saying murdered his wife?

LiamC:Can’t discuss my work. Client-attorney privilege.

Me:Oh. Right. Sorry.

Minutes passed without a reply from him. My eyes stung as I recalled the cold way he’d treated me in Ryan’s room.

Me:I really liked kissing you the other night.

No response.

Steve’s voice cut through my music. “That little shit needs to pay up. There’s no food in this goddamn place.” His steps sounded in the hall before there was a bang at my door. “Open up.” The knob jingled as he twisted it from the other side. Another heavy knock. “Hey!”

The only time Mom or Steve remembered I existed was when they wanted money.

I turned up the volume in my earbuds and closed my eyes.

Wishing I was somewhere else.

Chapter 8