Chapter 13

“What’s up? Got a bee in your bonnet? Melvin sidled up to her, whispering sweet nothings, the air between them thick with ambiguity.

Jocelyn turned her head and forcefully pried his hand away, putting some distance between them.

She saw a flicker of annoyance in his eyes and remembered the way he looked at her after he put that woman in the car the other day. It hurt like hell.

Melvin stepped back, leaning against the wall, his expression cooling off

“What do you mean?” he asked

Jocelyn stared him down, only now realizing how little she meant to him

He didn’t even bother to offer an explanation

She didn’t want to go all harpy on him, interrogating who that woman was, or who he had been with during those two days and a night.

She pointed at the bag by the door, “Did my dad give that to you?”

“Yeah, Melvin glanced at it nonchalantly.

So, why’d you bring it here?”

“Well, I’m here, aren’t 1? Where else should I have taken it?

“You know damn well that’s my dad returning a favor. Even if you think it’s beneath you and don’t want it, you shouldn’t flaunt it in my face!” Jocelyn’s temper flared up.

Melvin frowned. So where should I have dumped it?

“Do you despise these things that much? Are they just not worthy of your precious attention, so you dump them on me? Jocelyn’s tone was sharp, she wanted to keep her cool, but she just couldn’t.

“You’re way off base. Melvin reached for her hand, “Come on…”

Jocelyn shook him off, “I don’t even know what my place means to you. Sure, I like you, but I’m not bottomless. Like this stuff, if you don’t value it, toss it. Don’t give it to me or flaunt it. It just makes us look like a joke!

“What are you trying to say? Melvin’s face darkened too.

Jocelyn took a deep breath, “I won’t be the other woman.

With one woman out in the open, one in the shadows, hoping to have it all?

Dream on!

scowled. The

didn’t want to say much more, stepping back to widen the gap between them. “I thought we weren’t planning on marriage, just living day by day, in the moment. But now, even that’s too much, so what’s

refused to be labeled a homewrecker, a mistress, a floozy

a flicker from Melvin’s eyelids, he asked, Got someone else lined

in

Done playing?”

Chapter 1

the bedroom. He didn’t even shut the door. He got dressed and walked out. face sour as

door slammed shut with

with nothing but frustration and

wanted to hear, but he wouldn’t

disdained to explain because they

retain, no need to explain, it’s over

crossed, no matter how painful or unwilling, she had to cut

make

went to the bedroom, yanked his clothes out of the closet, and threw

burn

at the door Judging by the rhythm, it

herself and answered the door. It was Rose, her neighbor

fight with your boyfriend? I saw him standing down there all

Jocelyn froze

He didn’t leave?

had packed his things, sitting on the bed and watching the time. It

an impact,

longer and hurried down to look around. But there was no sign of him.

scoffed at

was she doing?

new, so how could he have nowhere to go? Why would he linger downstairs? He

nearby trash can,

at that moment, Jocelyn felt a sharp pain in her chest.

past him, ignoring him completely.

grabbed her hand just before she got into the elevator. He pulled her into

are you doing? Let go of me!” Jocelyn was furious, her voice quivering.

in on her, trapping her in his space, “If can’t bear to see me go, why didn’t you stop me?” he murmured, a

turned her head away, defiantly saying, “You’re imagining

here

“No!”

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