Page 112 of Checkmate
“Yeah, that was an asshole move,” he said, resting his forehead against hers. “God, I’m sorry, Soph. I just didn’t wanna spoil the little bubble we were in by bringing us back to reality. I didn’t want you to think this was something it wasn’t.”
“So what is it?”
“She’s just coming to get her things, that’s all. If I had anything to hide, I’d have got you out of the house, right? I wouldn’t keep you here.”
“I suppose,” she said, conceding his point. “But why are you bothered by Marcus being here? Her business is her business, right?” Alex sighed heavily, taking a step back from her.
She could see him trying to form his words and gave him a moment. This was an opportunity to show him how mature she could be. Or at least pretend to be. “Alex, you can tell me the truth. That’s all I want from you - honesty.
“I know you’re not where I am yet. I know you weren’t ready to call time on your marriage. But you invited me to stay, and you haven’t asked me to leave. All I’d appreciate right now is a bit of transparency. I’m not looking for you to say you love me, but I wish you’d show you respect me.”
Oh, that was good. Giving herself a mental pat on the back, she kept a solemn expression as Alex searched her eyes. She could tell she was getting somewhere with him. He wasn’t just seeing her as something to fuck, but a real person who wasn’t as bratty as he once thought.
“You’re right,” he said, pulling her closer once again. “You’re completely right. I’ve been rotten. Forgive me?”
“Nothing to forgive,” she assured him, kissing him once.
“In the spirit of transparency, I am not okay with Marcus being here. The bloke punched me. Multiple times.” A dark expression came over his face, his eyes blazing. “I am not okay with the insinuation that they spent breakfast together. And I hate the fact he’s had his hands all over her.”
“Do you hate that he touched me at one point?”
Alex looked down at her and nodded once. “I told you to stop sleeping with him, didn’t I?” He was still lying to her face after promising her transparency. But it was okay. She could handle little lies here and there. Things were going her way more than they weren’t, and she was sure the rest would fall into place soon enough.
All she needed to do was keep showing Alex there was more to her than he had assumed. He could have everything he wanted with her and more.
Who cared what Marcus and Erica were up to. If she wanted Sophie’s sloppy seconds, she was welcome to them. It was one hell of a downgrade, but that was Erica’s business.
It wouldn’t last, anyway. Rebounds rarely did.
But why were they looking at each other like that?
And why did it bother her so much?
Chapter 30
Erica
“It fuckin’ stinks."
Erica glanced up at Marcus and nodded, wrinkling her nose. He wasn’t wrong. There was a foul odour in the house that she couldn’t quite place. As soon as Alex opened the door, it hit her, only getting stronger the longer they stayed there.
It made them want to get out of there even faster.
In her closet, they grabbed two suitcases. “I only want the clothes I’ve bought myself,” she said. “These two racks here. Nothing from Alex.” Pulling clothes off hangers, she stuffed them into the bags.
She wanted to get out of there as soon as she could. Not only did she feel uncomfortable in what used to be her home, but the stench was truly nauseating.
“What the fuck is that smell?” She asked. “I swear it didn’t smell like this when I lived here.”
“I believe you,” Marcus replied. “If you think about it, you’ll figure it out.”
She accepted the challenge and took a reluctant sniff, making a face as the smell filled her nostrils. It was like a mixture of a gym locker room and a teenage boys’ room. Stale sweat and something else. She chuckled without humour.
“You know, it reminds me a little of Josh’s bedroom when we were growing up,” she said. “Of course, that smell was from the crusty socks. He kept them hidden under his …” Her words trailed off as she realised.
Sex.
She could smell the aftermath of sex.
