Page 106 of Off-Limits

“Multiple times, but I am not going anywhere.”

The smile that comes is easy. He’s my best-friend, and we’ve always been there for each other, but right now I think I need to sleep this off so I can wake up tomorrow with some kind of purpose.

Because at this very moment, all I want to do is crawl up in a ball, cry myself to sleep, and then maybe never wake. Yeah, I’m being dramatic, but I’ve lost two of the three people I really care about, and I hate how out of control I’m feeling.

“I think I’m going to eat something and go to sleep.”

Johnny rears back like I’ve slapped him.

“What?”

“It’s only six pm!” he exclaims.

“And?”

“It’s. Six. PM. Damon.”

“Like I said…and?”

“You are ridiculous. What happened to my best-friend?” he says with a smirk on his face and backing up. “That’s right, he got pussy whipped.”

I reach for the remote on the table and hurl it at him, but of course it misses him, hitting the doorframe, with his laughter echoing behind him.

“See you tomorrow, princess. We have a big day!”

The front door closes, and I sag in relief. Glancing down at the remote, I shake my head, but I can’t help the small smile that plays at the corner of my lips. He’s such a prick.

Pushing off the lounge, I collect the remote and batteries off the ground, fix them into place, and throw the remote onto the lounge. Yawning, I stretch and head to the kitchen to grab some water and ibuprofen. Swallowing the pills down, I drag myself to the room, sighing when I see my bed.

Peeling off my clothes, I flop on the bed and roll to the side.Dottie’s side. Releasing a heavy breath, I grab her pillow and bring it to my nose, inhaling. Her scent still lingers, but it’s not as strong and it makes me feel panicked.

I can’t live without her. I. Just. Can’t.

Rolling over, I grab my phone and move to our message thread. I flick through for a few minutes, tears collectingin my eyes, hating that Johnny was right. I am pussy whipped, but this isn’t a phase, this is my forever after.

Scrolling to the bottom, I start typing out a message. I delete it at least ten times before I finally settle on something simple. Swallowing, I look at it once more before pressing send.

I wait for the read signal to come up; but it doesn’t. Deflating, I exit out of the message, hating how vulnerable and helpless I feel. I reach again for her pillow, bring it to my chest, and cuddle it with my eyes fluttering closed.

Her pretty violet eyes form in my mind, followed by her killer smile and intoxicating laugh. It sends a warm balm over my body, and the last thing I remember before I allow sleep to take me is, I will get my woman back, if it is the last thing I fucking do.

Chapter Thirty

DOTTIE

I miss you.

It’s the same message Damon has sent for the past week. He’s stopped declaring his love for me with every text, but what did I expect?

Still, something tells me these three words mean something more.

I miss him, too. So. Fucking. Much.

Sitting at my easel, I mix some paints together to get the colour I want. It’s the piece I was working on before Arrie barged in on me and uprooted my life; but I wouldn’t change it. Except now, with every stroke of my paintbrush, I find myself missing Damon more and thinking of the unfinished mural.

Not to mention I have avoided every single one of Arrie’s messages and phone calls. I know I’m being a coward, but I can’t stand to hear the disappointment and hurt in her voice.

Sighing, I put the brush down, step back, and look at the painting. It would look finished to some, butthere is something missing. Screwing up my face, I chew on my lip and tap my paintbrush on my overalls.