Mafia Rules (Mafia King #1)

24. EVE

24

EVE

H ours later and two busses, I stand in front of the building I’d lived in for two years, possibly about to make the biggest mistake of my life—seemingly the theme of this season for me. My finger lingers over the buzzer, despite the keys still on my key chain.

I pause. I could walk away; no one would ever know how low I’ve sunk. But there was a familiarity with Dereck, and I knew what I got with him. When I met his parents, he was so proud to show me off and to his friends back home. I wasn’t a secret to him.

I should be with Ash right now, being tied up to his bed, begging for him to enter me. I can’t help but picture him doing that with Sasha, as replaceable as I was to him. She would not give up on him. The way she looks at him makes my skin crawl.

I turn to walk away and run smack into Dereck.

“Eve.” He glances at the front of his building. “This is a surprise. Did you reply to my text?” He reaches for his phone in his pocket.

“No. I just found myself here.” I motion to the building. “I thought I would pick up some more of my things, if you don’t mind?”

“Yeah, I put some stuff in boxes.” He opens the door with his key and holds it open for me.

“Thanks.” After stepping inside, the door closes with a loud thud, stirring up old emotions. And memories of running down these stairs to escape him not long ago.

“I haven’t had a drink since that night,” he says from behind me.

“That’s good for you.” I offer a weak smile, recognizing the words as something I had heard before. Dereck was a good partner when he wasn’t drinking. As the days passed, his drinking habit intensified, and his jealousy consumed him. I couldn’t even talk to a man at work without him getting upset and exploding.

“I’m staying on the program this time,” he says, as if reading my expression. “I’m going to meetings and have a sponsor.”

I smile and nod. “I’m happy for you.” I felt the familiar rough texture of the railing under my hand as I started climbing the three flights of stairs to our apartment—his apartment—hoping that what he was saying was true, for his sake.

We don’t talk again until he lets us into the apartment. It was clean, with no liquor bottles in sight and nothing out of place. “The place looks nice.” I fold my hands in front of me, feeling slightly more at ease.

“What I did to you… I’m so sorry, Eve.” He steps closer to me, and I instinctively take a step back.

“I’m just here for my stuff.” I glance over to the side where a row of boxes is packed with my name.

“This should be all of it. That’s why I texted.” He motions to the boxes. “If I find anything else, I can let you know.”

“I was looking for my journals, mostly.” I look at my whole life packed in six boxes. My possessions can fill one carload.

“They are in there. And all your books.” Dereck stands awkwardly, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, his eyes darting back and forth as if he's got more to say.

“Thanks.” I walk over to the stack, unsure of how I’ll get this to Macy’s tiny apartment and wonder if I will fit it all in. I can’t call Macy because she’d disown me if she knew I was here.

“Did you drive here? I can help you bring them down.” He picks up a couple of boxes.

“No, I guess I didn’t realize I had this much stuff here.” I scratch my head, unsure of my true purpose here. Maybe to get back at Ash. Maybe to get my stuff and sever my last connection with Dereck.

“I can give you a lift. My dad bought me a truck for not drinking.” As he says the last part, his voice becomes quieter.

“Uh, yeah. That would be great, actually. Thanks.”

“Wait here, I’ll get the cart. We can probably get it all in one go,” he says, leaving the apartment.

As I look around, the room feels both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. My witchy calendar was missing, my tea mugs were no longer in the cupboard, and fresh tea towels were out that I’d never seen before.

The place that used to feel like home now seemed unfamiliar. Similar to the feeling I have at Macy’s. All the memories I have are already fading. My first apartment ever with my first serious boyfriend.

My pocket suddenly tingles as my phone vibrates against my leg. I take it out to see another text from Ash. I push it back into my jacket. I wasn’t ready to deal with my feelings for him.

I blink back tears, so angry with him for dismissing me so easily. Feeling like such a fool to fall for a man I met while he fucked his secretary in front of me. A man who could have anyone. Why would he want me?

Dereck appears at the door with the cart. “Ready?” He smiles.

We load up the cart and take the service elevator to his truck. It takes a while, but we get everything into the back of his vehicle, with one box for me to hold on my lap.

“Thanks again,” I say, unsure of how I feel about letting him help me, considering how he’s hurt me.

“I’m happy to do it. I’ll always answer your phone calls, Eve.” He nods and our gaze connects. I believe him.

We drive without talking most of the way, my stomach settling the closer we get to Macy’s, my mind turning to how I would get all these boxes to the elevator.

“So, how are things? You like it at Macy’s?” Dereck asks.

Macy and Dereck hated each other from the start. They were like oil and water. “Good. I’m hoping to get my own place soon.” As I pick at the tape on the box, I can't shake off the awkward feeling being in his presence. He wasn’t drinking, so I knew I would be safe, but I knew that other side of him.

“You got a new job yet?” he asks sheepishly, knowing he’s the reason I lost my last one.

“Yes. I’m working in an office.”

“Office?” Looking at his face, it was clear he was puzzled. “You don’t have any office experience.”

“Someone took a chance on me, I guess.” I look out at the buildings as we pass them, not wanting to give him more details about my job—if I still have it.

“That’s good. Do you like it?”

“I do.”

“I’m glad we can do this. I mean, talk,” Dereck awkwardly stammers out.

“This will probably be the last time.” I push the words out before I chicken out. “I just can’t…”

“I get it. I do,” he replies.

We revert to silence for the rest of the drive. He pulls up to Macy’s building entrance. “Do you want some help?”

“Just to the curb, please.” I smile. It felt like I should.

We leave his truck and start stacking the boxes inside the door. Several are so heavy with books that I will probably have to push them along the floor with my foot.

“You sure I can’t help?”

“No, I got it from here.” Glancing at the boxes, I feel a sense of dread about hauling them up to Macy’s and a surge of excitement at the thought of having my belongings back.

“Well, I guess I should go.” Dereck stands awkwardly; this is where friends would hug, but we weren’t friends anymore.

“Yeah.” I pick up a box to get this part over with, already thinking about calling Macy as soon as Dereck leaves, despite knowing I’ll have to listen to her rants about me going over to his place alone.

“Eve.”

I turn back to him. “Yeah?”

“Can we hug? Just a friends hug.” He holds his arms out.

There's a fleeting moment where he resembles the young boy I fell in love with when we first started dating. Outside our favorite cafe, we accidentally collided, causing us to spill our morning coffees. Then, I found out we worked for the same family but in different businesses. Him in marketing, and me as a bartender.

I shrug, giving in to his request. This moment seemed like the definitive end to our relationship. I lean into his arms, and we embrace. It feels empty, and all the feelings I had are gone. He’s just another boy that I’ll never see again.

When we let go, he waves goodbye and walks toward the door. That’s when I see Ash standing and watching us. His face is beet red, and the vein in his neck is pulsating as he approaches Dereck.