leaving my father.” He sighed and stood up. “I’m going to let you get on with the varnishing.”
“I’ll walk you out.”
We strolled through the apartment, making plans to meet up after work tomorrow. I hated the worry darkening my friend’s expression.
He turned to me before I opened the door. “I don’t care anymore about what he thinks. What the world thinks. Now that Mom is out from under his influence, I think—no, I know—things will be okay between me and her. And that’s all that matters.”
Surprised by the random turn of conversation, I raised a questioning eyebrow.
“What I’m trying to say is, we don’t have to make people think we’re dating anymore. It’s unnecessary. And maybe you could start actually dating.”
The thought of no longer hiding behind Asher as an excuse was scary. I didn’t want to admit that to him, though. Not knowing what to say, I was dazed as Asher opened my front door. Realizing he was just trying to be a good friend, even as all this craziness was happening to him, affection filled me. I pulled him back for a hug.
Asher’s arms tightened around me.
“What would I do without you, huh?”
“You’ll never have to know,” I promised him.
As we pulled back, he brushed his thumb over my cheek.
“Show me the dimple,” he demanded.
I grinned as his thumb caressed the hollow in my cheek, but the sound of a woman’s giggle drew my attention from Asher.
We both turned toward the sound coming from the apartment across the hall.
Oh my God.
Pressed against the doorjamb of the open apartment door was a tall blond. A very familiar, gorgeous guy crushed his body against hers as he kissed her.
There was a moment where I forgot the last seven years had happened.
And all I saw was the man I loved kissing another woman.
No … devouring her.
Jealousy, outrage, and pain were my foremost emotions. They made my skin hot, my chest ache, and my throat painfully thick.
But then Jamie released the woman. Despite the passionate kiss, his expression was blank, unaffected. “Thanks, gorgeous. We’re done here. Leave.”
With crashing reality, I remembered this wasn’t Jamie from my past. This was Griffin Stone. My Jamie would never talk to a woman like that.
And what the hell was he doing in the apartment across from mine?
The blond was breathing fast and shallow. She scowled, confused. “Your mood swings are giving me a migraine.”
“Then go see a doctor.”
“Asshole.” She huffed and pushed off the jamb. She faltered when she saw Asher and me, a red stain flushing her cheeks, before she disappeared downstairs. The sound of her heels clattering against the concrete steps echoed up to us. I gazed incredulously at Jamie.
He stared back.
“Uh. Hey,” Asher said, breaking the strained tension. He strode toward Jamie, pulling me along with him. Holding out his hand, he said, “Are you new to the building?”
To my shock, Jamie shook his hand. “I am. I’m Griffin. Are you my neighbors?”
“Ja—Margot is.” Asher faltered on my name and gave me an apologetic smile. “I’m her friend, Asher.”
“Asher, good to meet you.” Jamie held out his hand to me. “Margot.”
There was a smug understanding in his eyes as he looked at me. He knew I hadn’t told Asher about him. Realizing Asher would figure out something was going on if I didn’t shake Jamie’s hand, I hesitated before letting him touch me.
A shiver skated down my spine as his warm, strong fingers enveloped mine.
Memories washed over me as we held each other’s gazes.
Kisses and hugs and soft laughter in the dark.
Jamie’s grip tightened ever so slightly before he dropped my hand like a hot potato. “Nice to meet you.”
“Yeah, you too,” I muttered. I turned to Asher. “I’ll see you later.” I caressed his arm in affection and then tried to walk calmly back to my apartment. Thankfully, I could hear Asher and Jamie saying goodbye before I closed myself back in my apartment.
What the hell was he doing here?
Was this part of a sick plan to torment me?
Limbs trembling, I moved distractedly back into my bedroom and heard my phone beep. Grabbing it off my dresser, I saw it was a text from Asher.
Holy hot chemistry. He forgot that blond as soon as he saw you. xx
The blond. I practically hissed.
That fucker. How many women had he had since he got out of prison?
I couldn’t bear to let anyone that close to me again, and he’d gone back to his old ways. Except worse. My Jamie, even before we dated, didn’t