Chapter 43
Paige
I drive around for hours to eventually find myself at Graham’s townhouse, but I can’t get out of my car.
I turn my phone back on and roll my eyes at the fifteen missed calls and numerous texts from everyone. I go to my contact list and call the only person I think can offer guidance.
“Hey, wifey!” David says in the sweetest voice.
I can’t help the tears from pouring down my face.
“I just caught Seth fucking the redhead bitch,” I manage to get out between breathless sobs.
I can feel the panic attack and try to focus on breathing.
“I fucking knew it!” David says proudly before realizing I am in a weird emotional state. “Oh, sorry, lovely! This means the hot doctor is single, right?”
I let out a small laugh.
“Remember how I called you the other night and told you I was heading to the gym?”
“Was Mister Perfect there?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
I find the eagerness in David’s voice comforting for some reason, and I can’t help but smile.
“Let’s just say he had no problem making me come more than once and we didn’t even have sex.”
I can’t help but bite my lip and try not to focus on how right that night felt.
“You slut! I love it.” David says playfully, and I wipe my face between my soft chuckles. “Paige, Seth never deserved you. We both know you weren’t exactly shying away from Graham.”
“I know.”
I sigh softly before wiping my face again with the sleeve of my hoodie.
“Where are you now?” He laugh.
“I have been sitting outside Mr. Perfect place for about two hours.”
David laughs, and I know he is enjoying this way too much.
“The only way to get over someone is to get under a new someone.”
“He and I aren’t exactly innocent here, David.”
I felt guilty on some level. I wanted him regardless of his relationship status the second I met Graham.
“They were over Paige, just like you and Seth never had a chance once you met Graham.”
I just roll my eyes, but he isn’t wrong.
“I’m going to call him.”
I groan.
“Tell Mr. Perfect I said hi.”
I let out a small laugh before saying bye and ending the call. I look around the empty parking lot again and sigh, resting my head on the steering wheel momentarily before finally FaceTime-calling Graham like I had wanted to for hours.
“Hey,” Graham says softly.
I can tell from everything in the background that he is with Clint. Graham walks out on the back patio and sits in one of the chairs.
“Hey.”
I feel the tears building back up behind my eyes.
“Where are you?”
“Did she tell you what was happening before I found out?”
The words are harsh, but I need to know if he has kept this from me.
“No, but I did have suspicions.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
Graham studies me for a moment before letting out an exhausted sigh.
“I wanted to see you happy, and if that meant keeping my mouth shut about something that happened long before you were involved, I was going to do that. All I want is you, Paige.”
Graham’s words are precisely what I need to hear. I am nothing more than another victim in the long and exhausting story of Seth and Katherine. Graham is trapped by his guilt for a loss that wasn’t even his to suffer.
“All I want is you too because I am sitting parked in front of your place.”
I laugh softly.
“I should have figured, considering the circumstances, it’s the last place Seth will show up. Do you want me to come home?”
Everything in me is screaming yes, but I hesitate. I just ended everything with Seth and need to process some of that before throwing myself further down the rabbit hole with Graham. I want to drown when we both are ready.
A door slams behind Graham, and he tilts the phone towards his chest. I can hear muffled words before Clint snatches the phone from him. I can’t help but laugh.
“Paige, I’m here. Whatever you need.”
A softness is in Clint’s eyes.
“Thanks.”
Graham takes the phone back before walking further from the house. He ends up sitting on a small garden swing and rocking himself back and forth. I take my time memorizing his face and how he always makes me feel.
“Why are you looking at me like you are saying goodbye?” he asks in a hurt tone.
I can’t help but want to kiss it all away.
“Not goodbye, Graham. I just need some time and a little space,” I say, not knowing if that is what I truly want.
Last night, I was so sure that it was him, but today, I don’t know if I can trust anything. I can see the disappointment on his face, and it is taking everything I have in me not to go to him right now.
“Lie for a lie?” I ask, and he smiles softly as I say, “I will not miss you terribly.”
He smiles deepens before saying, “I’m not madly in love with you.”
I study his face before kissing my fingertips and touching him on the screen. I hang up the call and start my car. And I feel like I can breathe for the first time in months.