department, but a girl still had pride.
Chris had remained still. In fact, he was propped against his black leather headboard looking as cool and calm as a balmy breeze. His upper body was bare and buff. And good God, his body looked as delicious as it felt. If I hadn’t been in the throes of heartbreak, I’d have appreciated the chocolate eye candy.
“Morning, sunshine.”
“I thought I was sleeping on the couch?” I smoothed down my unruly tresses.
He shook his head. “After the day you had, you needed a good night’s sleep. In a bed.”
“Right. And why are we in bed together?”
“It’s my bed.” He scratched the stubble along his jaw, looking slightly amused.
“Ooookay. I’m going now.” I rolled out of his humongous bed. Had to be a California king, which he needed for his six-foot-four frame.
The basketball shorts he’d let me borrow nearly slipped down my waist. I pulled the drawstrings and tied a bow.
“What’s the plan?” His eyes danced. He looked amused at my fumbling.
“Plan?”
“Yes. What are you going to do? You didn’t go home last night, and Keith blew up your phone with calls and texts.”
“He did?” I asked, scanning the room. “Where’s my phone?”
He reached over to the side table and pulled my phone from the drawer.
I tried to pretend I wasn’t mesmerized by his core muscles and broad shoulders.
“I turned it off.”
My shoulders bunched. “Kind of high-handed of you.”
“He called twenty times before I turned it off. Sent you multiple messages. Messages and calls make noise. You needed to sleep.” He stretched out his arm with my phone in his hand.
I walked to his side of the bed and took the phone. “I don’t have a plan.” I shrugged. “I’ll give him back his ring and stay with my parents until I get my own place. Simple as that.”
“Do you need me to follow you home? Take your back?”
Warmth crept up my neck and flooded my cheeks. Keith made you feel warm, too.
I squared my shoulders and loaded the competent counselor’s voice in my arsenal. “Thanks, but no. He has a thing with the Atlanta Press Club this morning. Won’t be back until after two. I’ll pack my stuff in the meantime.”
“So, he gets the house? Why can’t he leave?”
“Technically, it’s his home.” His parents had given him the keys a few years ago when he turned thirty.
Chris nodded. “Your car is outside. Call me when you get settled.”
The arrogance and demand in his voice made me roll my eyes. “Okay, Christopher. I’m going to use your bathroom and then go. I’ll wash your clothes and return them.”
He gave me a small smile. “No need. Looks better on you.”
Rushing from the room, I hid the small smile on my face. A flutter of appreciation filled my chest. Was he flirting with me? I opened the door to his guest bathroom and leaned against the sink, staring at my reflection.
My eyes, droopy and sad, were tinged with pink. My normally nice stature was saggy, and my rat’s nest hair was the cherry on top of my hot mess sundae. There was no way Chris had been flirting with this wreck staring back at me. He barely liked me. Worse, he pitied me. And right now, I was pretty damned pitiful. Turning on the faucet, I splashed my face with water and scrubbed.
I wish I could scrub away the stupid. Sliding my tongue against my teeth, I grimaced when I felt a light scuzz. I need toothpaste. I rooted around the drawer and found what I was looking for. The toothpaste had been rolled, twisted, which forced me to squeeze until the nearly empty tube pushed paste to the top.
Nearly empty.
That’s me. Somehow, I’d allowed a man to twist and roll me into his desires, and when he’d used me up, simply sling me into a drawer, forgotten.
Nearly empty. I had nothing else to give. And I didn’t want to give anything away.
Fuck Keith and fuck men. I was done, and if it wasn’t battery-operated or my fingers, nothing would penetrate me. I turned on my phone, deleted all texts from Keith, and messaged my girls.
Keith is a lying piece of shit, and I’m leaving him. I need to pack my stuff and go. Meet me in an hour?
My phone rang like I knew it would. Nikki’s name flashed across the screen.
“Girl, what happened?”
“I caught Keith banging his office manager.” My voice sounded deceptively calm, despite the new surge of anger rolling through me. I opened the bathroom