Big Ben (See No Evil Trilogy #1) - Nana Malone Page 0,100
relationship. Especially after Paris. He cared about me, and I well...I was dangerously close to falling.
So then talk to him before you freak.
I would. We were certainly past the point of keeping secrets. He’d seen all of my dirty laundry.
When my phone buzzed, I rolled over on the bed, tugging the robe around me, and grabbed my cell off the nightstand. I assumed it was Telly following up with a text about something she’d forgotten, but I frowned when I saw who it was.
Dexter: Where the hell are you? Where did you stay last night? Call me.
I immediately hit delete. Then pushed out of bed to find some clothes. I’d only managed a T-shirt and panties when another chime dinged. Dexter again.
Dexter: Just talk to me.
I couldn’t avoid him. If I did, he’d just keep calling and texting. And I was done avoiding. I called him instead of texting back.
He answered right away. “Oh my God, Livy, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. But you can’t keep calling me. You can’t text me. We’re done.”
“I made a mistake. Are you really going to throw away everything for a little mistake?”
“And therein lies the problem. To you, it was a little mistake. To me, you took everything that we were and you ruined it.”
“Jesus. Look, I’m just saying the wrong thing. If you would just meet with me, okay? I’ll come to you, or just come back to the flat. We’ll talk.”
“I’m pretty sure I told you to get the hell out of the flat.”
“You weren’t thinking straight.”
I sighed. “Let me make it perfectly clear to you, Dexter. I was thinking straight. I’m done with you. I never want to hear from you again. I never want to talk to you again. Do not be there when I come to collect my things. Matter of fact, I’ll send someone to do that.”
He cursed under his breath. “Fuck. Look we just need to talk this out. Where are you? I’ll come to you. I’m willing to start over and give you whatever you need.”
“What I need is not to talk to you again.”
His voice took on a sharp edge. “Tell me where the fuck you are. I’m done arguing. You’re acting like a spoiled bitch.”
I lifted my brows. So this was him. This was the real Dex. “Bitch is it? Fine call me what you need to. The more you talk, the more you cement my decision.”
There was a beat of silence. “You’re with him, aren’t you?”
“I’m not with Ben right now.” Technically the truth, but still, I wasn’t going to get into that with him. “Dexter, we’re done. I’m in love with someone else.”
Silence. “So, you shagged him then? To get back at me?”
Had he always been such a self-centered prick? Yes. Absolutely yes. “Everything I told you when I walked in the apartment yesterday was true. You’re the one who’s been having an affair.”
“Well the way you’re acting is making me wonder a few things too.”
“Wonder all you want. Let’s not forget, you practically threw me at your boss.”
Another beat of silence. “That’s not what that was. You’re overreacting. Typical. If you would just stop being so high-strung and listen—”
“Ah, and there’s the real Dexter. Ready and willing to blame me and call me names. I’m done. I don’t have to put up with that anymore. And while we’re at it, I’m going to call the investigators in the morning and let them know I wasn’t the one responsible for our accident. I’m not signing off on it.”
“God, you’re such a fucking cunt,” he spat out. “Do you know how much I hate you right now? If you would just—”
I hung up without letting him finish.
For three long moments I started at the phone waiting for the guilt and concern. It didn’t come. I felt so much better. Lighter. Like I’d taken charge of my own life again.
I was free.
I needed to find pants. I’d get dressed check in on work maybe, then give Ben a call. I heard a crash from somewhere in the house and I paused.
Frowning, I went to the door and listened. There was a loud thump coming from down the hall to the left. I opened the bedroom door and called out. “Ben, is that you?” I inched out, peering into the rooms I passed. Looking for signs of life.
It wasn’t until I made a left toward the living room that I felt it. The hairs at the back of my neck stood at attention, and I whipped around. Instead of Ben, it was the one person I didn’t expect to see. I opened my mouth to scream, but he grabbed me and planted his hand over my mouth. “You have been a very naughty girl.”