“Aww.” My eyes threaten to well up with tears as she squeezes my fingers.
“You were just trying to help. You saw someone hurting, and you tried to do something about it with the information you had at the time. Okay, you were miles off target…” Maria smiles gently at me. “But your heart was in the right place. It always is.”
“Thank you,” I whisper back. “The thing is though, if I had been right, then I would have been able to help Reed… maybe.” I shrug. “But this? How do I help him with this?”
Maria brushes her hair back over her shoulder, and I wait, ready to hang off her every word. I know she’s been through a lot herself to get to where she is today, running her own business, and a happy, respectful relationship with Griffin. If there’s someone with life wisdom gained through experience, then it’s Maria.
“Harley.” She sighs. “You can’t fix what’s already done. You can only be yourself.”
“Myself?”
Her lips curl into a kind smile. “Yes. And something tells me that will be more than enough.”
I finish my wine as Maria and I chat about the retreat, and she updates me on Eggbert, as I’ve named him. Then I head back downstairs to our apartment, sliding my feet into my slippers as I enter.
The living room is empty. Reed must still be out. I’m about to flick the TV on when the sound of a muffled voice comes from inside his room. Maybe he’s practicing his greeting for when he meets the president this weekend. It wouldn’t surprise me. I’ve been running over what I should and shouldn’t say if I meet him as well. Although, all I’m dying to do is ask how his dog, Lincoln, after Abraham Lincoln, is. He’s the most adorable terrier and I would love to ask about him and what it’s like having a pet in the White House. Who walks him and whether he flies in Air Force One or stays at home. Whether he has his own security detail assigned. Pet napping is a huge problem. Natalia told me as much when she was over.
I tiptoe along the hallway and press my ear against his bedroom door. I don’t even know why I’m trying to listen in on him rehearsing, if that is what he’s doing, but yet, here I am, my cheek squished against his door so hard that if he were to open it now, I would fall ass-over-head through it and land in a pile at his feet. I’ve seen him do some public speaking at a couple of the small press events I’ve attended with him, and I’m not going to lie, the way his deep voice commands the room, demanding respect and silence is sexy as hell.
I shouldn’t listen.
“Fuck… just like that.”
I shoot back from the door like it’s on fire.What the?Is he serious? Does he have someone in there right now? In our apartment? His voice is quiet, like he’s trying to make sure he isn’t heard. But it’s also low, gruff, and gravelly.
Laced with sex.
Anger spikes low in my stomach, coursing heat through my veins. He said it had been months. The bastard couldn’t wait a little longer until I had moved out? After he made me promise I wouldn’t date while we were in this… arrangement.This sham.
My hand hovers over the handle, but I withdraw it when he speaks again.
“Wrap those pretty pink lips around it.”
Fuck. My stomach flips and I swallow hard as I realize I’m listening to Reed getting a blow job, separated only by the thin sheet of wood that is his bedroom door. I turn away, sickened at what an idiot I’ve been. I knew he was like this. I knew he was unable to think without his dick being involved. I’ve been so accommodating. Going to all these stupid functions, playing the doting girlfriend, and he couldn’t give me the same respect? Couldn’t keep to his word? I bet she’s not even the first. He’s probably had half of Manhattan up here when I’ve been out. I should have listened to my gut. I’ve met enough assholes in my time to know that the chances were Reed Walker was never going to be any different.
There’s a deep groan of satisfaction as whoever she is finishes and gives Reed what he was waiting for. I stand frozen to the spot, unable to make my feet move as blood rushes in my ears. I should be in my room now. In my room packing. There’s no way I’m going to stay and give him the opportunity to lie to my face and try and talk himself out of it, try to…
“Harley?” Reed’s door opens and his eyes widen as he finds me hovering in the hallway.
I drop my gaze over his bare chest and tanned abs to his low-slung cotton pajama pants. The outline of his still softening dick is visible through the fabric, and I swallow the bile in my throat at the hint of what she had to work with. I wonder if she can dislocate her jaw to fit it. Like when snakes eat a whole egg, just swallow the giant thing down in one go.
“How long have you been home?”
Reed hovers in his doorway, probably wondering how he’s going to sneak whoever she is out.
“Not long.”Long enough.
I meet his gaze and he looks uncomfortable for a brief moment, running a hand around the back of his neck. Over the exact spot where I know his hair is softest.
“Good.” He gives me an awkward smile. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Reed look awkward before. But then I’ve never caught him with his dick in another woman’s mouth before. “How’s Maria?”
“She’s fine,” I snap. If he thinks he can make small talk with me in the hope I will go in a minute and he can sneak his conquest out, then he’s sorely mistaken. I’m not going to make this easy for him.
His brow furrows as I cross my arms and glare at him. He holds my eyes for what would feel like an uncomfortably long time under normal circumstances. But seeing as I’m pissed enough to crack him over the head with his guitar, the length of time is nowhere near sufficient for my glare to convey all the insults I’m hurling at him in my head right now.
“Did you want a drink?” He arches a brow at me, his eyes darkening as he eventually breaks the silence.
I shake my head, and then he stomps off in the direction of the kitchen, leaving his bedroom door wide open.