Page 44 of Pretend I’m Yours
He didn’t have any interest in getting himself into the same situation I had, though he wasn’t opposed to finding a woman in his life. So, after a few drinks and some conversation, we wrapped things up and I headed back to the penthouse.
I had planned on walking originally, but with the sky threatening rain, I decided to get a cab. That got me there a lot sooner than I planned, but I was just going to grab another drink to keep my buzz going, and head to my room. I figured Hannah would be at school anyway, and I needed time to tell her what I wanted her to know.
I knew that I wanted it to be a light conversation. I wanted her to know that I hadn’t meant to fall in love with her, but I really couldn’t help it. She had to know that she was the best thing that had ever happened to me, and no one made me feel like she had.
She had to know that I didn’t want it to be over, and if she would give me the chance, I would do anything in my power to take care of her and keep her happy. It all sounded so good in my head, and I knew I just had to figure out how to word it so she thought it was a good idea, too.
I heard the yelling before I even reached the door. It echoed dimly through the hall of the complex despite the fact the walls were thick and the door was closed. I’d hoped on my way to the door that the argument was taking place in another apartment, but when I got to the door and pulled out my key, I could hear plainly that they were fighting inside.
A man’s voice and a woman’s followed by Hannah’s. It wasn’t hard to guess that it had to be her parents talking to her. She’d told me that she’d ‘handled things’ with her parents regarding our fake marriage, but clearly she had not. That in itself cause a twinge of pain in my chest.
I planned to slip through the apartment and into my room, then close the door and wait it out. If I played my cards right, they wouldn’t even see me. Hell, with my military training, I knew it wasn’t going to be hard to creep through, provided they weren’t in the middle of the room I’d have to cross through.
I silently opened the door and the voices became much louder.
I’d just made up my mind that I was going to pass through without a word when I heard Hannah’s voice. She was laughing, telling her parents that we were just faking the marriage. She was paying me, and it was all for the sake of getting rid of Brandon.
Though I already knew what we were doing, hearing her say the words now drove a stake into my heart. She didn’t sound the least bit upset that things were coming to an end between us, and it almost sounded to me as though she was trying to alleviate her parents’ anger by telling them not to worry, it wasn’t real. Even though she’d told me time and again how litter her parents’ opinion meant to her. But she was still technically living under their roof and she was clearly playing their game to get what she wanted. Just like she was with me.
Hearing her say that we were nothing hurt. It hurt more than I could describe. I tasted bile and felt sick to my stomach. At the same time, I wanted to head into the living room and tell her that the contract was over; I’d done what I needed to do, and it was time for me to move on.
But I didn’t want to move on.
As angry was I was feeling that Hannah had played me, I just couldn’t make myself end it just then. But I was also no longer able to keep myself silent. I needed to get out before I exploded and made the situation even worse for myself.
I threw open the door and closed it hard behind me. I didn’t care who heard me, or what her parents thought about it. Hannah? I knew she wouldn’t care. Hell, if this truly was just a game for her to get rid of her ex, then of course she wouldn’t care if I just walked out of there.
She was nearly done with me anyway, and there was a part of me that told myself I should be looking forward to being through with the situation. It hurt too much to be there with her, but my heart told me it would hurt even more to be away from her. I needed to stop listening to my traitorous heart and start thinking like the carefully trained man that I was. I needed self-preservation now more than ever.
