Coming Home(24)

She could hear music playing faintly—Dave Matthews Band crooning “Crush.” Leah took another step into the apartment, and her eye was immediately drawn to the coffee table, where there was a half-empty bottle of Shiraz.

With two wine glasses next to it.

A horrible, wrenching sensation knotted her stomach as she looked down the hallway toward his bedroom.

And that’s when she heard the muffled moan.

She had no idea why she even walked toward the door. She knew what she would find. But it was like some sadistic, unseen force had taken control of her body—her head screamed for her to leave as her legs continued to carry her toward his bedroom.

And then her hand was on the doorknob, turning it gently as she pushed it open.

The smell hit her in the face like a slap—scented candles and alcohol and sex—and she could see his bare back as he held his weight up in his arms, his hips moving steadily between the pedicured feet wrapped securely about his waist.

She stared at the image before her, everything taking on the fuzzy, surreal quality of a dream.

This wasn’t real. There was no way this could be happening.

He lifted his head then, whipping it over his shoulder and making eye contact with her. His movements slowed as he looked at her, his expression more confused than remorseful.

From below him, where a mess of red hair was splayed out over the pillow, Leah saw a hand reach up and turn his face, pulling him back down for a kiss.

It was as if the cord that had been tethering her in place suddenly snapped, and she stumbled backward, knocking over the lamp on the table behind her as she turned and ran out the door. She made it as far as the bottom of the stairs outside before she dropped to her knees and vomited.

Leah collapsed on the ground as she continued to gasp for air between coughs and sobs. Despite the fact that she couldn’t bear to be there a minute longer, after everything she’d been through that night, she didn’t have the strength to move.

He never even came out to find her.

She had no idea how long she sat there on the floor, but eventually Leah pulled herself up and stumbled to her car. She knew there was no way she could drive. She couldn’t even see. But she managed to call Robyn, and as soon as she answered, Leah broke into hysterics again, wailing unintelligibly into the phone. Somehow, Robyn was able piece together where she was, and it wasn’t long before Holly and Robyn were there, their arms wrapped around her as they kissed her head and rubbed her hair, telling her that everything was going to be okay.

“We don’t have to talk about this,” Robyn said, pulling her from the memory as she laid her hand over Leah’s.

Leah kept her eyes down as she nodded. “Yeah, I’d rather not. I’m just gonna ignore him, and he’ll eventually stop, like he always does.”

“Yeah, until the next time,” Holly said angrily. “Seriously, you should just change your number and end this shit once and for all.”

“You know that wouldn’t end it, Holly. He knows where I live. He’d still be able to send me things.”

The last time he decided he wanted to reconcile, it had been flowers and playlists he’d burned on to CDs for her.

“Hmm,” Holly said, pursing her lips. “Well, then how about a taser to his ball sack? Bet that would end it.”

Robyn snorted as Leah cupped her hand to her mouth, and then all at once the three of them were hysterically laughing.

“Oh my God, your bracelet!” Robyn said suddenly, her eyes wide as she pointed to Leah’s wrist.

Leah spun it gently. “Oh yeah. I forgot to tell you guys.”