Page 57 of From the Embers

I shake my head. “You are just pitiful, aren’t you?” She opens her mouth to give me another barrage of insults, no doubt, but Denver hoists her by the arm and shoves her outside, just as I step in. Her face is a mix of rage and embarrassment.

“Stay away from me, stay away from Adi or you’ll regret it. I don’t want to see your face around here or the fucking police will be the least of your problems, got me?”

“Whatever,” Hannah huffs just as Denver slams the door in her face.

“Oh man, please tell me she’s finally gone.” I turn back to Denver whose eyes are practically burning a hole into me.

“Adi, I’m so, so sorry about that.”

“Look, Denver. I’m not sure I can do this right now.” I bend to pick up the bag of donuts and turn on my heel. The tears fringe around my eyes, and I want to safely get out of sight before I let them spill. Was I an idiot for believing that I could compete with someone that looks like Hannah? He says it’s over… but why is she here?

He wouldn’t do that to you, he wouldn’t.

Again, my walls are coming up. I know I shouldn’t compare Denver to Cam, but I’ve been lied to and cheated on before.

I feel Denver’s hand on my wrist and I turn, keeping a steady hold on the coffee.

“Adi, wait! She just showed up here with a key she never returned,” he says, his eyes pained and his face contorted. It pulls at my heart strings immediately to see him look this way.

“Sh-she broke in?” I garble.

“Yes, she broke in. I was on the couch with Bodhi and she just appeared in my fucking den. She obviously cut a spare key.”

“Do you know how that sounds right now, and how it looks?” My words wobble, but I try to keep breathing and keep them in a straight line.

“I know exactly how it must sound and look. In all seriousness, I was just throwing her out. I’ve got security footage, I’ll show you if you don’t believe me. I swear to you, I wouldn’t lie about this.”

I nod. “I know, but I think I need to go, Denver, just to clear my head. This is a lot.”

I’m not used to dealing with other woman dramas.

“Please, Adi. This isn’t what you think. I have no interest in her. You saw that the other night. I don’t want her, I want you!”

“Then why does she keep showing up?”

“I’ve no idea. She was bombed the other night, she obviously didn’t get the message. But I think that’s the last we’ll be seeing of her.”

“I think I just need to process this, D. I’m sorry.”

He blinks like I just struck him across the face, and it pains me that he thinks I don’t believe him. I mean, I do, but it’s pushing a few too many buttons for me right now. I just need to breathe.

I hand him his coffee and the bag of donuts. “I know we had coffee earlier, but I thought an iced latte would hit the spot. And I missed you, so I came over earlier to surprise you.”

“I missed you too,” he says, not taking his eyes off me.

“Later,” I say. “I need to think, okay?”

“Okay,” Denver replies, his voice quiet and full of regret.

I walk to the elevator. Thankfully Hannah is long gone. She better not be hanging around outside, otherwise I may just have to accidentally see if that trench coat is stain resistant.

The thought is very vengeful, but it perks me up enough to keep walking away.

A few hours later

I spent the afternoon catching up on laundry, changing my sheets, and doing a general once-over of my apartment to get it spick and span again. There’s something therapeutic about cleaning and having a tidy space. I still have some moving boxes taking up some space in the spare room, but I’m slowly working through those.

I’m just making some rice cakes and ricotta cheese for a snack, as well as a big mug of English breakfast tea, when my phone rings. I walk over to the breakfast counter to see who it is. My heart is in my chest thinking it could be Denver, but it’s my mom.