Page 107 of Off-Limits

The doorbell rings and I freeze in place. I swallow the lump in my throat, hoping if I stay quiet, whoever is knocking will go away, but when I hear a familiar voice, I know my time is up.

“I know you’re in there, Dottie. Open the door.”

Closing my now watering eyes, I open them and walk toward the door on autopilot. When I open it there is no warm embrace like usual, no squeal of happiness, only sadness hangs in the air between us.

Arrie’s green eyes are bloodshot, and when they flicker down to my collar, I see the hurt in them, yet I can’t help reaching up to toy with ring and heart. We stand there at loss for words, when Arrie finally opens her mouth.

“Did he buy that for you?”

I nod. I have missed Damon, but I’ve missed Arrie so fucking much as well. It’s like I’m missing a piece of me.

I step to the side without a word, and Arrie steps in. Swallowing, I close the door and follow her inside. She heads straight for the kitchen, and I know she’s going to grab a drink.

She pours two vodkas, adds some mineral water and lemon, before turning around and sliding mine across the table. I take it willingly, knowing I’m going to need some Dutch courage for what’s about to go down. She doesn’t make eye contact with me until her ass hits the seat, and I feel the kick in the gut from here.

The betrayal and pain shines so fucking brightly in her eyes, and I hate myself a little bit more for being the reason for her hurt. Swallowing my pride, I take a seat.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Tears collect in my eyes, but I wipe them away.

“I didn’t knowhowto tell you.”

“Don’t bullshit me, Dottie, this is me you’re talking to.”

I chew on my lip feeling the word vomit barrelling up my damn throat, and before I can stop myself, I let it all out.

“I was so scared I would lose you, Arrie, you have to know that.”

“But you did it anyway.”

“It’s not what you think.”

“Enlighten me.”

“Do you really want to know? He is your dad.”

“I need to hear your side of the story.”

Beside the sexual side of things, I tell her everything. From the unknown text messages on the app we were on, up until we met and how things unfolded after that. I made certain Arrie knew that Damon was as cut up as I was, and he didn’t want to hurt her, that we both tried in the beginning to fight it.

There are a lot of tears, and when I finally finish our story, I look to her with pleading eyes. Please, please, don’t let her hate me, it’s all I can think of as she looks at me.

“You could have told me, Dottie. I am your best fucking friend!”

“And he’syour dad, Arrie,” I bite back, and she winces. “What the hell would you have me say? Oh, by the way, your dad took my virginity, and now we are actively fucking. Come on, Arrie, please understand why I didn’t come to you. Damon wanted to, but I told him to wait. I wanted to make sure whatever we had was real before we hurt you!”

“But you hurt me anyway!”

I glance down, my gut twisting at the raw, honest to God truth that left her lips.

“I did,” I whisper, peering up and locking eyes with her green pair. “I did and I’m so fucking sorry, and I hate myself for it, but I can’t help that I’m in love with him, Arrie. The only reason I left was to protect you and him.”

“Protect us?” she says, incredulous, but before she goes on another rant, I explain to her what happened with her mother.

“She’s blackmailed you?”

“Yeah.”