Page 152 of Just for the Cameras
I rock on my heels, waiting for her to answer, but with every second that ticks by that she doesn’t answer the door, my worry ratchets and my heart starts to sink further and further because…is she out with him?
When they left, did they leave together to go have dinner?
To go out on a date?
Would she move that goddamn fast? Did I totally misread her affirming words from Friday night? Did the thank-you kiss mean nothing?Am I simply too fucking hard for her to deal with?
I push my hand through my hair, messing with the style but not caring. I know I fucked up, and I shouldn’t have yelled at her like that. I know I should have talked to her, but could that really have driven her away to fucking Slutty Little Glasses that quickly?
It makes me wonder what he has been doing and saying to her when I haven’t been at the zoo. Has he been slowly sliding in with every second he had with her?
I grind my teeth together and turn around, knowing she’s not home.
I glance out to the street, wondering what the hell I should do.
Do I leave and text her?
Who’s to say she’d respond?
If I stay, does that make me seem desperate?
Hell, who am I kidding? I am desperate.
So, I lean against the wall next to her door, and I wait. I will wait as long as I need to in order to talk to her. I’m just hoping it’s not all goddamn night.
The door opens to the street, and my eyes shoot up from my phone, where I’ve been distracting myself by studying videos of other teams. The minute Maple comes into view holding a bag of groceries, relief washes through me because she wasn’t out with him, she had to get food.
Thank—
Oh fuck…
That bout of relief is quickly stolen from me as Hank the Wank walks in behind her, holding reusable grocery bags as well.
I fucking hate him.
He says something to her, she chuckles, they smile together, and I’ve never felt more like an outsider than in this moment. Insecurity grips my heart, my fight-or-flight kicks in, and for a brief second, I consider fleeing, but when her eyes lift to find me at her door, she comes to an abrupt stop.
“Graydon,” she says, almost a whisper. “What…what are you doing here?”
Here’s your moment, your chance. I only wish the douche wasn’t behind her.
Hands in my pockets, I say, “I wanted to talk to you.”
“Oh.” She moves forward, Hank eyeing me like he’s ready to strike at any minute.Don’t even fucking try, I will bury you.
“Just for a moment,” I nearly beg.
“I can stay with you,” Hank reassures her as Maple opens her apartment door.
She doesn’t need you, fuckwad. Go back to Peru and leave my girl alone.
“That’s…that’s okay,” she says as she moves into her apartment. “Let me just put the cold stuff away.”
Hank and Maple slip into her apartment together, and the door shuts on me, closing me out from what’s happening between the two of them.
Normally, I’d fucking charge right through that door, pick the guy up by his shirt, and shove him out to the curb, letting him know exactly where he belongs, but I’m trying to rein in my anger. So instead, I scrub my hand over my face, and I wait, my skin prickling with irritation and my pulse thrumming with the need to destroy something.
After what feels like ten goddamn minutes, the door opens, and Slutty Little Glasses gives her a hug right fucking in front of me, then takes off without sparing me a glance. That’s probably best because I might have unhinged my jaw and bitten his stupid head off.
