Chapter Sixteen
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The next few days were hell. I was in a constant state of shock, frustration, and sadness, cycling between the three so rapidly that it gave me whiplash at times.
Sometimes I was angry at myself. The night Robert left, I’d broken into tears so quickly. I should’ve been smarter. Maybe I could’ve persuaded him to stay if I’d been more eloquent.
Other times, I was angry at him. Why was it my fault? How could I have kept calm when he was the one who’d walked out so easily? One second, he’d been in my bed, and the next, he was packing his things.
I thought we had something. Something deep. Something real. He was a coward, giving up just like that.
If he really cared for me, he wouldn’t have walked away.
Most of the time though, I missed him so much, my entire body ached. My appetite disappeared, and I found it difficult to sleep. When I did wake up, I’d feel a moment of peace, before all the memories rushed back.
I thought about skipping work, claiming I was sick, but I knew that if I stayed home, I’d just wallow. I forced myself to attend pilates classes, because I knew working out would help relieve the sadness and stress building up in my body.
When Alison and Cameron invited me a party they were hosting, I was tempted to say no, but then I would spend the entire night eating ice-cream out of the tub. So, I said I’d be there.
Now, I tried to muster up some enthusiasm as I zipped up my black cocktail dress. Although part of me was too exhausted to socialize, I knew the party would be a good distraction from my sadness and anger.
I hadn’t told my friends about Robert. I was about to tell them once we were officially together, but our relationship had only lasted twenty-four hours before he walked out.
What an asshole. I wanted to kill him.
I also wanted to beg him to come back.
Now, I put on a pair of dangly gold earrings and a matching necklace. As I headed to the foyer the sound of my heels clicking against the floor echoed throughout my apartment. I hated how quiet my home was now. I hated that I had to go to this party alone. I could’ve invited Robert as my plus one if things hadn’t fallen apart.
My eyes threatened to sting at the thought, but I blinked them hard. I’d just applied mascara and eyeliner, and there was no way I was showing up at the party looking like a panda.
Half an hour later, I arrived at Alison and Cameron’s luxurious apartment. The walls were decorated with photos — some from business awards nights, others with family, and many of them together.
Alison appeared in front of me, her long brown hair curled, wearing a red dress and matching ruby earrings. “You’re here!” she exclaimed, sweeping me into a hug. I inhaled the familiar scent of her Dior perfume. “We’ve been waiting for you. Emilia was about to call.”
“Sorry I’m late. I was a little slow getting ready,” I said as I hugged her back. “Is everyone else here?”
Alison released me and nodded. “Come on, we’re drinking and talking in the living room. If you’re hungry, there’s plenty of food in the kitchen and dining room.”
I wasn’t hungry, but I smiled and nodded before following her to the living room. Guests filled the space, holding wine glasses while they chattered.
“Cameron, Brooke is here,” Alison called as we entered, and he turned from the leather sectional where he was talking to a group of well-dressed men men.
Cameron was tall, with blond hair and blue eyes. He was handsome in a neat, put-together sort of way. The type of man in Armani advertisements.
I preferred men who were a little more rugged. Big muscles, facial hair…
Someone like Robert.
Don’t think about him.
“Good to see you, Brooke,” Cameron said, embracing me. “How have you been?”
“Good,” I said, forcing a smile. “How have you both been? I haven’t seen you two in a while.”
“We’re good,” Alison said, sharing a smile with Cameron. “We’ve been so busy these past few weeks that we haven’t seen our friends. So we decided to host a party to see everyone together.”
“Geniuses, aren’t you?” I teased, coaxing a laugh from Cameron and a playful swat from Alison.
“We’re a good team,” Cameron said as he rested his arm around her shoulders, pressing a kiss to her temple.
Alison smiled up at him, and if I had super hearing, I bet I would’ve heard her heart flutter.
Usually, I would’ve found it adorable, but right then, all I could think about was how my own heart skipped a beat when I was around Robert.
“I’m going to get something to drink,” I said, forcing a smile before disappearing into the kitchen.
Alison and Cameron had set up a makeshift bar on the island. I poured myself a vodka cranberry, making it a little stronger than usual. I welcomed the burn in my stomach. Anything felt better than the weight I’d been carrying since Robert left.
Once I rejoined the group, I was swept into greetings and introductions as I met Cameron’s friends and some of Alison’s colleagues. Everyone was kind, but as the minutes ticked on, I found it harder and harder to keep up a positive facade. Small talk and smiles were exhausting.
I ran into Emilia, who’d been outside on the balcony. She swept me up in a tight hug. She looked gorgeous, her black hair styled in an updo, and her heart-shaped lips painted pink. “Come, let’s get another drink,” she said, leading me toward the kitchen. There, we ran into Alison, and as we poured drinks, we made small talk. I tried to sound normal as I updated them with meaningless comments about my work.
As soon as the rest of the guests left the kitchen, leaving the three of us alone, Alison’s expression turned into concern.
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
Emilia brushed my arm. “You seem a little off,” she said softly.
My shoulders slumped. Suddenly, I couldn’t pretend anymore.
“Robert left,” I said.
Alison tilted her head. “Your tenant? The handsome one?”
“Did you... get involved?” Emilia asked.
I fiddled with my glass, needing something to do with my hands. “Yeah,” I admitted. “It only happened recently. We both tried to resist it, but…” I sighed and blurted the whole story. How Robert comforted me, which led to him sleeping in the same bed, and how that turned into a sexual relationship. I told them how Mike showed up at the restaurant, just as we were agreeing to be together for real.
My friends gasped but didn’t interrupt. They listened, wide-eyed, as I told them that later, Mike showed up at my work. I repeated everything he’d said, and recounted how Robert left that evening.
“How could he leave, just like that?” Alison demanded, sounding outraged.
“That’s how I feel!” I said. “I thought he cared about me.” I sucked in a deep breath. I was not about to cry. I’d already cried too much.
“Oh, sweetie,” Emilia said, rubbing my back. “So was everything Mike said true?”
“Robert said it was true. He said he cheated on his wife.”
Alison took my hand and squeezed it. “Then maybe this is for the best,” she said gently.
“I’m just so confused,” I said. “He seemed so different. So… genuine. I can’t imagine him being unfaithful.”
“Some people are good liars,” Emilia pointed out. “Mike did say he was good at manipulating people.”
I shook my head. I refused to believe that Robert had played me. But what if that was because I didn’t want to admit that I’d been a fool?
I prided myself on being shrewd. What if Robert had conned me?
“You should’ve seen his face,” I said. “He looked so sad.”
“Because he’d been exposed,” Alison said.
“No,” I said. “It wasn’t like that. If he really was using me, why didn’t he stay? He could’ve kept using my body, kept living under my roof. I begged him to stay. When he left, he made it sound like… like he was doing it to protect me.” My voice cracked. “He looked like he didn’t want to leave, but he felt he had to.”
“I know you miss him,” Emilia said softly. “But it sounds like you dodged a bullet. He kept the truth from you, and sure, he might’ve been trying to change. But cheating on a previous partner — on your wife — is a huge red flag.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. “I know,” I whispered. “I know.”
My friends rubbed my back, and I had to admit that it felt better to blur out all of this to them. Yes, it was painful to relive the awful memories, but it was also a relief to share my sadness with my best friends.
“I feel so stupid,” I said. “I should’ve known it wouldn’t work out from the start. He’s too old for me, anyway.”
I must’ve looked naive. A silly little girl with a crush on someone I shouldn’t have been involved with.
“You’re not stupid, Brooke,” Alison said. “It’s not stupid to trust someone. Yes, it’s a risk, but love is always a risk. Just because something seems like it won’t work out, it doesn’t mean a relationship is impossible. Look at me and Cameron. It should’ve been impossible because I was his boss, but look how things turned out.” She wrapped an arm around me. “What I’m trying to say is that you never know unless you try. Don’t regret trying.”
I nodded. “You’re right. I shouldn’t regret it, but… it just hurts so much right now.”
“We’re here for you,” Emilia said. “Call us anytime and we’ll be there. We can watch movies, eat takeout, or you can cry on our shoulders. Whatever you want.”
I managed a small smile. “Thank you. And thank you both for listening to me.” I gave them both a quick hug. “I think for now I want to go home, though. Sorry for leaving your party early,” I said to Alison.
She shook her head. “No, don’t apologize. Do what you need to do. I’m just really glad we got to talk.”
I nodded. “I love you guys.”
“We love you too,” Emilia said, and we all hugged again.
When I got home, I stripped out of my dress, and slipped on my robe. I looked around my room. Usually, I was a neat person, but ever since Robert left, my apartment had grown more and more messy. I didn’t have the energy to clean.
Now, my eyes caught sight of something on the floor. I walked over, recognizing the pale pink wrapping paper. Robert’s present. I remember he placed it on the nightstand the night he left. It must’ve gotten knocked onto the ground at some point.
I sat on the edge of the bed, holding the rectangular gift. Was it worth opening? Maybe it’d tear open the wound.
I decided there was no point wasting it — whatever it was. I tugged off the ribbon and peeled away the wrapping paper. It was a book.
Not just any book. A historical romance by one of my favorite authors. I had most of her books, but I didn’t recognize this one. I flipped through the pages, which had the crisp smell of a brand new book. On the copyright page, it said the novel had been published this year.
It was a new release.
How had Robert known I loved this author?
Probably the same way he knew how I liked my tea: because he paid attention.
If he was just using me, why would he get me the perfect gift?
Just to manipulate me?
Or, was it because he truly cared?
Thinking about it made my head hurt. I set the novel down and wandered over to my bathroom. There, as I stood in front of the mirror, I slipped off my earrings and necklace. As I carefully placed them back into my jewelry box, something nagged at me. My watch. I still hadn’t found it yet.
I’d been so caught up in everything the past few days that I’d forgotten it was missing.
I checked my entire jewelry collection, rifled through the bathroom counter drawers and cupboards. I went through every article of clothing and combed every corner of my wardrobe. I even looked under my bed, just in case.
Still nothing.
Had Robert taken it after all? But what would he do with a woman’s watch? Sell it? Sure, it was valuable, but if he was going to steal from me, why stop at just one watch? Why not take more?
I returned to my wardrobe, my eyes scanning the designer bags hanging inside. Some of them were rare, and therefore, just as valuable…
If Robert was a thief, then why would he buy me a gift? Why would he take me out for a nice dinner? Why would he kiss me so lovingly?
I rifled through my collection of Chanel bags, and then it hit me. I froze as everything came into icy clarity.
Robert hadn’t taken the watch.
No. It had been someone else.