Page 52 of Score
“Itcanbe just you. It is. You’re not listening.”
“’Cause you ain’t saying shit, Vee!” I scream so loud it strains the muscles in my neck. “I told you I don’t do infidelity. I told you about my parents, what my father did to my mom, and you still…”
Hurt clogs my throat and I turn my back on her because my eyes are burning. I won’t give her that. Never again will this woman get that fromme. Not my weakness, vulnerability, trust. But, God, it stings. The truth of what she did sinks its claws in me so deep I’m surprised it doesn’t break the skin.
“You still did it,” I finish. “If you wanted to fuck somebody else—”
“I didn’t,” she says, her voice wet with tears now. “I don’t. I would never do that, Monk. I love—”
“Don’t youfuckingdare.” I swing around to face her, eyes narrowed in rage. “Don’t you lie to my face when I saw that shit for myself.”
“I’m not lying to you.” She clutches her head in her hands. “I don’t know what’s going on. I drank too much. You know I don’t drink, but I’ve been so stressed out with this project.”
“So every time you’re stressed, I should expect you to flip out and fuck somebody in a bar? Noted.”
“I’m not saying that. Just that there’s been a lot going on. I don’t understand why it’s all affecting me so bad. I’m not making excuses.”
“Sounds like excuses to me. Did you think I’m so in love with you I’d just forgive it, or did you think I’d never find out?”
“I wasn’t thinking.” She looks so helpless and lost it almost softens my fury. “I don’t have an explanation that will make it better.”
“At least we agree on that.”
“Monk, please, just—”
“I watch you while you sleep. Did you know that?” I don’t wait for her response, but forge ahead. “Because you’re so fucking beautiful when you’re asleep, but right now I can’t even remember how you look in my bed. Can’t remember how you look when you come, when you laugh. You erased everything tonight. Every good moment, every memory.”
She closes her eyes, tears carving tracks through the heavy makeup. “Please don’t say that. Don’t say we can’t fix this.”
“Oh, I’m saying it. We can’t fix this. I drew a line—no cheating—and you crossed it, danced all over it.”
“I didn’t cheat,” she whispers.
“Oh, you mean because I got there before he fucked you? If I arrived five minutes later, I would have walked in on you getting pounded into thewall. If I hadn’t called and heard your phone, had just left without knowing you were in that restroom, what would’ve happened, Vee?”
She’s quiet, her eyes tortured. “Please give me another chance, Monk. Give me a chance to explain.”
“No second chances. Not with this. Not with me. I don’t need it explained when it was right in my face.”
“I don’t know what’s happening,” she says, her voice breaking. “But I’ll figure it out and I’ll make it right. Just don’t leave me.”
“I’m not leaving.” I cross the room and open the door. “You are.”
“No.” She shakes her head, her eyes not wavering from mine. “Not until we have this out.”
“There is no this. Not anymore. Get your cheating ass out of my apartment and don’t come back.” I slide my hands into my pockets and swipe all expression from my face. “If any of your shit is here, I’ll make sure it gets to your dorm, but you getting out. Now.”
“Monk, let me—”
“The fuck,” I mutter, walking back to her with long, angry strides and grabbing the purse off her shoulder, digging through it until I find her keys.
“What are you doing?” she whimpers.
I grab the key to my apartment, jerk it off the ring, and drop her bag on the floor.
“I said”—I point to the door—“get out.”
“But, Monk—”
