Wilted (8 page)

Taking a step back, I revel in the way the glass crunches beneath my feet. I kick over the familiar red wooden frame and freeze when I see the picture resting inside. I took this of her last month when we flew to Sebastian’s house in Cabo San Lucas. My shredded heart sinks. I can smell the coconut oil on her body and I taste her flawless, sun-kissed skin. We’d had so much fun making love in the ocean that weekend. We didn’t even care if people on the beach knew what we were doing. Anytime we were together, we were each other’s world. Nothing else mattered. Or at least, I had thought.

Fuck her!

Slamming the door behind me, I walk out of her apartment for the last time. As I hit the button on the elevator panel, I take a deep breath. Just like the closing doors in front of me, I shut off the emotions in my body. Kylie Reynolds may still be in my heart, but I am damn determined to fuck her out of my mind.

KYLIE

With the shower wall supporting me, I press my forehead against the Spanish tiles and cry harder than I ever have in all of my life. My heart hurts so much at this moment that I don’t think I can take anything else. When Nik walked out on me the last time, I didn’t think I could hurt any more than I had that day, but I’d been so very wrong. Nothing can match the agony I feel right now. I don’t know how to survive without him.

His words play through my head on a constant loop and only deepen my hurt. How could he sleep with a girl he just met at a club? I should have known he would never be able to keep his dick in his pants. Did I mean anything to him at all? I’d told him I loved him.

My body shakes and my trembling legs fold beneath me. As I slide down to the shower floor, I wrap my arms around my body and allow the scorching hot water to cascade over me. Pain. It’s all I feel anymore. It’s all I ever feel.

As I wrap a towel around my body, I peek out of my bedroom, praying he’s gone now. I can’t deal with seeing him. I need to get to work, but I have a feeling that Evan will expect me to be late, especially since we just spent all night working together on a project. His presentation in Los Angeles is this week and I helped him with his pitch. I’d passed out over my laptop on the kitchen table while he’d dozed off on my couch.

I can only imagine what Nik must have thought when he saw him leaving here. When he’d asked me if Evan had spent the night, I couldn’t lie to him. But before I could explain myself, he’d ripped the rest of my heart out with his confession. He’d fucked someone he met at a bar last night. How could I have been so wrong about him? All these months we’ve shared together and he feels nothing for me? I’ve been head over heels in love with this man since the day I first laid eyes on him. He’d made me believe love is real, that maybe a happily ever after is actually possible. He was my prince. Now he’s become just another villain in my story.

I try to conceal the blotches on my face, but it’s useless. There’s not enough makeup on Earth to be able to hide this. Tears still linger in my bloodshot eyes. Like a leaking dam, I stand a chance of breaking down any moment now. As much as I want to crawl back into bed and hide from the world, that’s not the answer to this. The world doesn’t stop for a broken heart. Sliding on my sunglasses is a lame attempt to shield my devastated face from the world. When I step outside of my apartment building, the warm sun kisses my face.
What a beautiful day today.
It’s just a shame that I could care less about it. Even this beautiful sunshine can’t chase away the dark, luminous cloud that continually seems to linger over me.

“Kylie? You’re still here?” Evan peeks his head into my office. All day I’ve managed to avoid him by burying myself in my work and not even leaving for lunch.

“Yes. I’m just finishing up a few things.”

He closes the door to my office and settles into a chair in front of my desk. His nerves show in the way he twitches. He plays with his tie and my mind goes back to the way Nik had him by the throat this morning. I can’t help but smile to myself. Evan’s such a pussy and Nik’s strong ass could have snapped him in two. Nik’s always hated Evan. Lord knows we’ve fought plenty of times over me working with him. Being all Alpha male with me, Nik feels like he’s protecting what’s his. Well, guess what? I’m not his anymore.

“Have you been avoiding me? I was hoping you’d let me know how this morning went after I left. Are you all right?”

“It’s fine. There’s nothing to discuss. I told him to leave and he did. End of story.”

“Kylie, I should have stayed. I should have explained why I was there. It’s just... well, it’s just that he’s a jerk. I liked seeing him worked up a bit, I guess. Anyways, it was wrong of me and I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine, Evan. It’s been a long day, and if you don’t care, I don’t want to talk about it anymore, all right?”

“So, you’re all set to leave for LA, right?” he asks as he stands.

When I’d broken it off with Nik, I’d gone ahead and accepted the filler position. For the next couple of months, I will be an LA resident. Honestly, the further I’m away from Nikolas Thorne, the better.

“Yeah, I just wanted to get the last of these things caught up before I left tonight. Don’t worry, I’ll be ready to leave in the morning.”

“You know all this overtime always impresses the boss.” He winks and closes the door behind him as he leaves.

I’m just relieved to be alone again and that he didn’t ask me out. Working around him is difficult. I always tried to ignore what Nik pointed out, because I love my job. He sometimes gets a little too friendly with his hands and comments, but then again, don’t most men?

It’s almost eight in the evening before I leave my office building. Since I gave the keys to the Camaro back to Nik, it’s either take a cab or walk the twelve blocks home. When I step outside, I realize it’s pouring down rain. Great! I don’t even have a fucking umbrella. Lifting my leather satchel over my head, I frantically wave, hoping for a taxi to come to my rescue. They just ignore me, darting through traffic instead.

“You motherfuckers! Look at me!” I scream, jumping up and down. And then, headlights dart my way and I see a familiar silver Mercedes pulling to the curb. I panic as the tinted window slides down.

Shit! Shit!

“Need a ride?” Evan smiles.

“Evan, I’m soaked. I’ll just wait for a cab. Thanks anyways.” Walking over to an empty spot on the curb, I wave for one to see me. Evan steps out of his car, umbrella in hand, and walks my way.

Fucking hell!

“Kylie, stop being so damn stubborn. It’s pouring out here, and according to the news on the radio, it’s not likely to let up until morning. Let me take you home.”

Defeated, I look around me. I don’t like it, but honestly, I don’t have much of a choice. Nodding, I follow beside him, cringing when he puts his arm around my shoulder. Once I’m settled in, he runs across to the driver’s side and jumps in. After shaking off the umbrella, he tosses it into the floorboard behind me. The delicious smells of oregano and garlic fill the air, drawing my attention to the large foil package in the back seat. Confused, I look to him.

“I’m glad I caught you. I knew you didn’t eat any lunch, and since you worked so late, I’m guessing you skipped dinner, too. I thought I might drop this by your apartment.”

Really? He has no idea how much I want to engulf the entire contents of his back seat right now. I’m beyond starving.

“That’s awfully sweet of you Evan, but you didn’t have to do that.”

“Well, I’m glad I did, else I’d never have driven by when you were out in this mess. Cabs don’t pay attention to people in this weather. It’s like they don’t want to work in the rain. That, and normally, most people don’t get out in a storm like this.”

“Well, I’m not normal. What can I say?” I pat my soaked dress. Evan’s eyes dart down to my bare legs and I squirm as I try to pull down the fabric. The rain’s seemed to shrink it a few inches. His hand slides my way, but then diverts to the temperature control button on the panel in front of him.

“Let me turn the heat on a bit. I know you’re freezing.”

“I’m fine,” I lie. He’s right. Between being nervous with him and being soaked, I’m shaking like a fucking leaf.

“Here, take this and cover up.” Reaching into the back, he retrieves the jacket of his suit and hands it to me.

“I’ll ruin it, Evan. Really, I’m fine.”

He frowns.

“Take it, Kylie. I’m not worried about the suit. I’ve got a hundred of them.”

Hesitantly, I take it and lay it over me. The smell of his cologne from the fabric fills my nose. I’ve always hated this smell. I guess it’s one reason I don’t like working closely with him. Nik always smells so great. I used to love to lay with my head on his chest and just breathe him in. Evan’s voice brings me out of my thoughts. Honestly, I’m glad. The last thing I need to be doing is remembering Nikolas. That chapter is over in my life now. It’s time to move on.

“So, are you excited about going to LA tomorrow?”

“Oh, um, yes. I’m looking forward to meeting with them. I guess I’m still a bit shocked by their invitation to fill the position in the first place. There are lots more people who’ve been waiting for opportunities like this.”

“You’re brilliant at marketing, Kylie. Trust me, you’re going to do great in this business.”

He winks at me and then reaches over to pat my hand. Thankfully, we are about to pull up to my apartment building. Instead of pulling me up to the awning in the front, he turns into the area and parks.

“I’ll help you carry this up,” he offers as he leans back to pick up the food.