Second Chance Boyfriend (Drew + Fable #2)(67)

Thank God I don’t spot the Jag in my complex’s parking lot either. Relieved I dodged that bullet, I head toward my apartment, surprised to find the door unlocked when I enter.

Surprised even more to find Adele sitting on my f**king couch, Owen sitting next to her and looking incredibly uneasy.

“Andrew!” She stands, pushing her long dark hair over her shoulder. “You’re home!”

I shut the door, my gaze going to Owen, who sprang up so fast from that couch he reminded me of a jack in the box. He looks uncomfortable, he’ll hardly meet my eyes, and I’m instantly taken back.

How she used to spend all of her time with me. Flattering me. At first, she made me nervous. I wasn’t used to that sort of constant, almost overbearing attention. But after a while, I started to crave it. She knew exactly what she was doing, how she was manipulating me to fall under her spell.

“Get away from him,” I say a little too forcefully, shocking the both of them. “Keep your f**king hands off him, Adele, I mean it.”

She smirks, shooting Owen a long, sultry look. “He’s a sweet, sweet boy, Andrew, reminds me so much of you that age. Tall and handsome and so strong, he’s going to be quite the looker someday.”

I’ve never been tempted to do harm to a woman in my life. At this very moment, if I could wrap my hands around her neck and squeeze the ever-loving life out of her, I’d have no regrets. “Go to your room, Owen,” I demand.

He scurries off without a protest, slamming the door so hard, Adele jumps, then titters nervously.

“You don’t need to scare the poor boy. I didn’t do a thing to him. You know I only have eyes for you.” She comes close to me. I can smell the scent of alcohol emanating from her body. She has to be drunk.

Sidestepping her, I ignore what she said. She’s just trying to get a rise out of me, as usual. “Where’s Dad’s Jag?”

She laughs. “I parked it on the street, behind this building. Pretty devious, right? I knew you would flip if you saw the car. Knew that your dad would contact you and ask you to look for me. Heaven forbid he actually do it himself.” She plops down on the couch, her body draped across it. “You have a nice place here. Why does your little slut’s brother live with you?”

“It’s none of your goddamn business,” I bite out. “You call Fable a slut one more time, I won’t be held responsible for what I do to you.”

“Such anger. You know, I’m surprised the two of you are still together. I didn’t pick her as your type.” She tilts her head and smiles. “You deserve someone so much prettier, a better match for you. You have so much potential. Too much to squander it all on a stupid girl like Fable.”

Adele spits out Fable’s name like it’s poison. Fable does much the same with Adele’s name. “I already told you, watch what you say.”

She waves a hand. “What are your plans for the future anyway, hmm, Drew? Do you plan on moving on to pro ball? I know that’s your dream. I think you could do it. You’ve always chased your dreams and accomplished so much at such a young age.”

What is she talking about? “I’m not discussing my future with you or what I plan on doing next. You need to leave.”

Her eyes widen in feigned shock. “Why, Drew, I can’t believe you would say such a thing to me. Are you that eager to get rid of me?”

“Yes,” I tell her bluntly.

We stare at each other blindly for a long, uncomfortable moment, until finally her eyes narrow and she rests her hands on her hips. “I’m going to tell him, Andrew. I’m going to tell your dad about you and me and what we did. What we made. Vanessa. There’s nothing you can do to stop me either.”

All the blood feels like it drains from my body. “Why would you do that?”

“I need to come clean.” She shrugs. “I need to get my sins off my chest, Andrew. You’re my biggest sin. Did you know that? I’ve never done anything so wicked as what I did with you.”

“Shut up.” If I could slap my hands over my ears to drown out what she’s saying like some sort of little kid, I would. “Just shut up.”

“Truth hurts, doesn’t it? Imagine what it’ll do to your dad. Oh, it’ll tear him up. Destroy him and his relationship with you. You’ll lose him forever.” She smiles. “I’ve already lost him. What does it matter if you lose him too?”

“Get out,” I tell her. She’s already overstayed. I need her gone. Fable’s due home any minute and I can’t risk a confrontation.

“Don’t be so quick to send me home now. I fully plan on telling your father everything the second I see him.” She heads toward the door, her walk smooth, her head held high as if she were some sort of queen. The perfect image she must keep up has to be exhausting. I should know. I did much of the same thing for years.

“Why would you want to do that to him? To me? I thought you loved him.” I don’t understand why she needs to do this.

“I don’t love him. He doesn’t fulfill me. I stay with him for the beautiful house and the cars and the jewelry and the money. I don’t think I’ve loved him for years.”

This isn’t my problem. None of what she’s saying has anything to do with me. That she would be so hard and cold, talking about my father, is hard for me to swallow but I need to push past it all and get rid of this bitch.