“Wow, that’s harsh,” Jess said.
“That’s how much I hate him.”
“Something bad happened between you two, huh?” Rae asked.
“I’m done talking about this,” I said. “I think I’m going to head home. I need to get some sleep. It’s been a long day.”
“Don’t leave,” Sasha said. “I’m sorry… I’m…”
“It’s not your fault,” I said.
I stood up and put some money on the table.
As I walked away, Jess came after me.
“Hey, are you okay?” she asked.
“I’m fine,” I said. “I just don’t like talking about it.”
“That was probably a big shock for you.”
“Yeah, it was. I know he lives here. This is his city. Whatever.”
“You punched him? For real?”
I showed Jess my right fist. “That’s right.”
“You’re awesome, Abby.”
“Not even close,” I said.
“You can crash at my place again if you want.”
“I’m good,” I said. “I need my bed tonight. I need to sleep it all off.”
“Are you sure that’s going to happen?” Jess asked.
“Nope,” I said.
I walked to my car and drove home.
Home meaning Valerie’s apartment.
Where I had some space.
The size of Valerie’s entire apartment was probably the size of one of Reed’s closets in his house. Where I lived was probably the size of the room that housed his pool filter for his in-ground pool. And he probably had fancy lights, a heater, a hot tub at one end. You know, anything to give him that rock star sex appeal.
And he probably had to use three times the chemicals to chase away whatever diseases floated in the water thanks to the cheap women he enjoyed.
I hated that Reed was so heavily on my mind.
That punch didn’t do a damn thing.
I should have known better.
When I pulled into the parking lot, I saw someone was parked in my designated spot.
Of course someone was.
What a perfect way to end the day.
I found another spot and walked toward the front door of the building.
As I opened the door, I heard someone whistle.
I looked back.
I saw the asshole who had parked in my spot.
Reed was here.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I said. “How did you find me?”
“You auditioned, honey,” Reed said. “You filled out paperwork.”
“No, I…”
Sasha.
She must have filled out whatever paperwork was needed.
And now I had fucking Reed approaching me.
“What happened to your motorcycle?” I asked.
“This is more low-key,” he said. “Plus, you got me in trouble earlier.”
“I got you in trouble?” I asked.
“Yeah. There’s a video of me flipping off some lady in a car. Because you wouldn’t stop and talk to me for a second.”
“We have nothing to talk about,” I said.
“That I agree on, Abby,” he said.
Abby…
I hated the way he said my name. It was like he was saying Ah-be.
Fuck, who was I kidding. It was the sexiest way any guy had ever said my name.
But… not anymore.
Yeah, it used to make my knees weak.
Now I just felt like throwing up.
“So, if we have nothing to talk about,” I said, “why are you here?”
Reed looked around. “This your building?”
“Yeah. I own the entire thing. I'm a real estate mogul. I’m worth fucking billions, Reed.”
He laughed. “Wow. It was just a question.”
“No, I don’t own the building.”
“But you live here.”
“I share an apartment.”
“With your boyfriend?”
I shook my head. “What do you want?”
“I guess to throw some reality at you.”
“How about I throw a really big rock at your face and we call it a night?”
Reed touched his lip. “I think you got me once already today.”
“That was nothing,” I said.
“So you want to hit me again?”
“I want to do more than hit you.”
“Now you’re talking my language,” he said. “We both know angry sex is hot sex.”
I looked up and laughed. “This isn’t happening. The worst person I’ve ever met is seriously talking about sex…”
“Nothing we haven’t done before,” Reed said.
I looked at him. “You know what? You couldn’t make me come if I gave you a lifetime. Never once, Reed. All I did was just lay there in your bed and stare at the ceiling. I used to make grocery lists while you were fucking me. I used to think of song lyrics. I used to replay movies in my head. Okay? You’re not the rock star you think you are.”
I wasn’t sure what I was thinking.
A guy like Reed wasn’t going to be hurt. He wasn’t going to turn and tuck his tail between his legs.
“Honey, we both know that’s a lie,” Reed said. “Those sheets were so wet when I was done with you, we could have wrung them out.”
“Those were my tears,” I said. “I felt so bad for you. It made me cry.”
Reed smiled. “It didn’t taste like tears. Believe me, honey, I know what your body tastes like.”
I swallowed hard. “Goodbye, Reed. Do not come here ever again. I will call the police. I don’t care how much money you have, I still have a voice.”
“Yes, you do,” he said. “That’s why I’m here. About your voice.”
“Okay, good. You want to make fun of me? About what I wear and what I do? Go ahead.”
“I’ll have plenty of time to do that later.”
“No, you won’t. I never want to see you again after tonight. Got it? It’s my turn to get the final word. Goodbye.”
I turned and opened the door again.
“Then I guess I’ll just go to Sasha’s place next,” Reed called out.
I gritted my teeth.
I turned around again.
“What?”
“If you don’t want to do it, she will.”
“Do what?”
“What you auditioned for, honey,” Reed said.
I laughed. “You’re fucking kidding me, right?”
“No. The band agreed. Well, not me. I don’t want you in the studio. I don’t want to be anywhere near you. They voted it. Four against one. I lose.”
“I’m going to sing for FILTHY LINE…”
“That’s the plan,” Reed said.
“No.”
“No?”
“No,” I said. “I’m not going to do that.”
Reed nodded.
He walked toward me.
He put his hand into his pocket and took out a piece of paper.
When he reached for my hand, I pulled away.
Reed made another move and grabbed my hand.
“I’m not playing games, Abby,” he said.
God… stop saying my name like that… aahhh-beeee…