Chapter Twenty Unbothered
Chapter Twenty
Unbothered
I
wake up with my hair in a tangled mess, my mouth dry, and my mascara putting on its best raccoon impression. Reaching for my phone, the bright screen stabs at my eyes. Eight text messages. Five missed calls. And—seriously—three voicemails, really? Who even does that anymore?
Fuck. I completely forgot to call him. He probably thinks I’m still with Levy, and he’d be right.
It’s been weeks since I last saw Daniel before last night, and yeah—he was—is—the finest blonde-haired, blue-eyed man I’ve ever laid eyes on, but he looks like old money, while I’m over here leaking trauma from every pore.
I honestly don’t know what he sees in me other than my looks, my attitude, and well my best friend downstairs.
But I’m not the type to chase something I’ll probably fail at. I’d rather save myself the humiliation and pretend
I never wanted it in the first place. I’d rather fall for someone who’s just as broken as I am.
Rolling out of bed, I catch my reflection in Levy’s bathroom mirror and wince. It’s not just the smudged makeup or the wild hair—it’s my eyes. I look like someone who did too much last night and knew better. I really acted like a hoe last night.
Hell, I was a hoe last night.
I can’t believe I pulled that shit—especially at Daniel’s house. I was basically begging for drama. And knowing him, he’ll be annoyed with hearing from me later today, but oh well.
The truth is, he’s not built for the kind of storm that my life comes with. Once he and his picture-perfect family get a real look at the weight I carry, they’ll drop me faster than they can say disgrace.
Levy shifts beneath me, his arm tightening around my waist, pulling me closer until I’m flush against him. The warmth of him sinks deep, grounding in a way that almost makes me forget. Almost.
It’s not safety I feel—it’s something heavier, something that makes me forget Jacob’s betrayal, Daniel’s disappointment, and all the what-ifs I pretend don’t bother me.
Morning settles around us in silence, our breaths soft, his chest rising in an easy rhythm beneath my cheek. I feel his breaths easing into a slower beat. Curious, I glance up at him.
His deep blue eyes are cracked open, watching me. In the soft light leaking through the blinds, they look different morning—still sharp, but warmer, the night stripping away whatever armor he had on.
“Morning beautiful,” he murmurs, his voice gravelly from sleep.
“Morning, handsome,” I whisper back, my lips brushing his skin just enough to make him smirk.
His hand moves slow along my back, tracing lazy lines that make my skin hum. “Your eyes are even more ravishing in the morning,” he teases, a grin creeping across his face.
I roll my eyes, laughing softly. “Flattery before breakfast? You really know how to keep a girl wanting more.”
He catches my chin between his fingers, tilting my face back toward him. “I’m just appreciating the view.”
“Uh-huh,” I whisper, trying to hide the blush threatening to give me away. “That’s what they all say, and next thing you know you’re stuck with me.”
He smiles wider, and I cave—leaning in, I press my lips to his. When I pull back and settle against his chest again, the silence isn’t heavy—it’s comforting in a way that almost annoys me.
My brain—the one wired for disaster and escape routes—actually settles. No doubts, no overthinking, no he’ll ghotst-me-by-noon paranoia. Just the rare quiet of being present.
The sheets twist around us, his cologne clinging my skin like it’s got a lease. I burrow a little closer anyway, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart.
“You’re quiet,” he murmurs, his lips brushing against my hair. His voice smooth like velvet dipped in exhaustion.
I smile against his chest, tracing a pattern on his abs with my fingertips. “Just trying to soak it all in,” I say. “Feels too good to waste it on words. You’d probably ruin it with one of your cheesy lines anyway.”
He chuckles, low and rough. “I like the way you think,” he says, tilting my chin until I have to meet his gaze. “But I like your voice even more.”
I smirk. “Yeah, I’ve heard that before. Usually right before the compliments start sounding rehearsed.”
He raises a brow, amused. “You always this skeptical in the morning?”
“Only when I wake up in a stranger’s bed,” I say, half teasing, half honest.That earns me a smile—a real one. His hand drifts higher, thumb brushing my cheek as he studies me.
“I figured, you don’t seem like the type to do this often.” His voice dipping softer. “But I’m not just anyone—and I am glad you stayed, beautiful.”
The way he says beautiful feels different when it sounds like it’s coming from a real place.
“Careful,” I whisper, my lips curving into a grin. “Keep talking like that and I might have to start sleeping here more often.”
He laughs quietly, brushing his thumb along my jaw. “Guess I’ll have to continue to back it up, then.”
Curling closer against his chest, I let my eyes drift shut, deciding silence is safer than more honesty right now.
I let myself breathe—no guilt, no second-guessing. Just surprising peacefulness, and one very inconvenient feeling I’m not ready to name.
? ? ?
I walk through the front door with my bra dangling from one hand and my heels clutched in the other, I catch my Uber driver pulling away before I even manage to slam the door shut behind me.
It’s almost noon, but my body swears it’s barely nine.
My head’s still pounding from last night, each throb a petty little reminder that I mixed drinks like I was on a mission to forget my name.
Dragging my feet down the hallway, I pause outside Arina’s door. It’s shut, and for a second, I think about knocking—then remember how heavy I feel and immediately decide against it. My body’s begging for my bed, not small talk.
Pushing into my room, I kick the door closed with my heel and let everything fall where it wants. My shirt, my shorts, my heels—they drop in a messy trail behind me. I crawl onto my bed and flop onto my back, the smell of liquor, perfume, and sex still clinging to my skin.
The peace and quiet doesn’t even last a full minute before my door creaks open, and Arina’s voice slices through the silence. “Hey bitch, where the fuck have you been?”
I groan as I roll over, yanking the blanket halfway up my chest. “Girl, I left with that guy—the guy’s friend you walked up to. His name’s Levy.”
Arina steps into the doorway, arms folded tight, giving me that classic look.
Judgment and concern fighting for first place.
“Well, I hope you had fun, ‘cause Daniel was walking around looking like somebody’s mad-ass daddy. I didn’t say nothing, but bitch—he looked pissed. But at least he didn’t make a scene.”
I can’t help but laugh, my voice muffled against the blanket.
“Girl, I saw him when I was leaving with Levy. You know I had to make him feel something before I dipped. Otherwise, who knows how many more guilt-trip texts and missed calls I’d have right now.
Speaking of, I gotta call him later and smooth things over.
Because that little stunt he pulled last night in the bathroom—was not it. ”
Arina raises a brow, unimpressed. “And Levy?”
I grin against the pillow, eyes half-closed. “Levy’s fine as hell. I think I might actually give him a try. What can I say, the man’s got something I like.”
She snorts, shaking her head as her attitude softens into a lazy smile. “Whatever, bitch. You sound like me with all these men. Get some rest—you look like you’ve been up all night.”
“And morning,” I correct her, “and it’s because I have,” I mumble, already halfway asleep.
Arina chuckles on her way out, pulling the door shut behind her with a soft click.
The room dims, the peacefulness settling around me like a weighted blanket. I let out a long breath, eyes fluttering shut before I can think twice about Levy, Daniel, or any of the confusion I probably just started.