the calm that was just settling over me evaporates. The pill bottle slips from my hands and drops into the sink.
“No!” I choke.
“Olivia?”
My chest tightens painfully, keeping me from opening my mouth and responding. I run to the bathroom door and shut it, turning the lock, before he can see me. I get a glance at myself in the mirror, and I cringe. Tear tracks stain my cheeks, and my skin looks ghastly white.
“Olivia, are you all right?” Roman asks, his knuckles rapping on the door. I clamp a hand over my mouth, trying to stifle my heavy breathing. I force myself to inhale deep, stabilizing breaths, until my lungs expand just enough that I can respond.
“I’m s-sorry, I’m fine. I was feeling sick. Why don’t you and Ryder eat without me tonight?”
I expect to hear a response or his boots retreating, but they don’t. “Open the door,” he demands.
The sigh that expels from my lips is a choppy wheeze of air. “I’m fine, Roman. I swear. I think it was something I ate earlier. I’ll be okay.”
“You don’t sound fine.”
I can hear the skepticism in his tone. “You would sound like this, too, if you were on the toilet, Rome!” I snap, just wanting him to take the hint and go.
He lets out a deep sigh, and I hear a thud against the door, which I can only imagine is his head resting there. “You’ll call me once you’re feeling better?”
“I promise.”
I wait a while longer, until I hear the sound of his boots retreating. Collapsing against the wall in the bathroom, I slide down to the floor. With my arms resting on my knees, my heart drops, when I see the splotchy colors wrapped around my wrist. Tears spring to my eyes, and I press my lips together, trying to remain calm. Where Travis grabbed me, there is now a bruise marring my skin. My arms begin to shake, and a warning pain shoots through my heart.
He was the one who broke into my house that night.
I know it.
How far would he have gone if Roman hadn’t come over? “I could’ve had you already,” he had said. It didn’t make sense until now.
Showing up at my house at all hours uninvited. I should’ve known. I should’ve guessed it was him. Why hadn’t I thought of that before? His mood swings at work, the way he was acting whenever I turned him down—those were all signs. My hands tremble, as they weave into my hair, and I drop my head between my knees and sob.
Because, as much as I’d like to run next door and fall into Roman’s arms, I can’t. The first thing he’d do is go after Travis. He won’t care that I have no proof or anything to base my opinion on. And if he sees the marks on my skin, he’ll lose it. He won’t be thinking about Ryder and everything they went through to get him back. He’ll just be thinking about hurting Travis, and knowing my boss, he’s the kind of man who doesn’t care who he hurts in the process. He’ll press charges, Roman will lose Ryder, and I’ll never forgive myself.
On the bathroom floor, I make a deal with myself. A deal that will not affect Roman and Ryder.
“Girls Love Beyoncé”—Drake
With a glare painted on my face, I stand there, arms perched on the windowsill, as I stare into Olivia’s darkened bedroom. It’s night three that I still haven’t seen her. She comes home from work, later than usual, and she leaves before I’m out of the house with Ryder.
Usually, she packs us both breakfast on the way out, but ever since the other night, she’s damn near disappeared.
“Hey, Ro. Just wanted to say good night,” Ryder says, softly thumping his hand on the door. Turning, I find him leaning against the doorjamb, watching me with questions in his eyes. His gaze darts to the house next door.
“Are you guys fighting or something?”
I glance at Olivia’s house, my brows pulling low. I didn’t think we were fighting, but I’m not great at relationships. I could’ve done something that pissed her off, but I have no way of knowing.
“Honestly, I don’t know.”
My little brother scratches at the back of his neck, obviously uncomfortable with the idea of me fighting with Olivia.
“All right, well, I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Night, Ry. Let me know if you need anything.”
His lips twist into a crooked grin. I ask the same thing every night, and his