Chapter 63
Chapter Sixty-Three
CLOVER
Anita has been blowing up my phone for the past hour, but I haven’t had the nerve to pick up.
Lying in bed in my new, much cheaper hotel room, I bury my face in the pillow and scream.
How fucking naive was I for waking up so happy this morning? For believing that life had changed for the better in these last few weeks. I feel like a fool, a dumb, heartbroken fool.
I knew I was pushing it when I said those things to Roman by the fountain, but he’d been equally hurtful to me. That he was so spiteful makes me wonder if I ever really knew him at all.
My phone vibrates, and I look down, ready to toss it if Roman’s stupid enough to send a text.
Jill
I’m so sorry. He’s on my shit list too. I can pick you up from the airport if you need?
Sniffling, I wipe my tears with the back of my hand. My face is raw from how many times I’ve needed to wipe at it. Maybe I should let it stay wet at this point.
I’m glad Jill broke the ice and sent a message first. I wasn’t sure how to approach this with her, and after what Roman did, I was worried I’d lose Jill too. I can’t lose them both, especially not like this.
My phone vibrates again, and when I look down, it’s Anita calling me for the seventh time. Knowing she’ll keep going if I don’t pick up, I concede and lift the phone to my ear.
“Clover?” she practically shouts.
“Yeah.”
“Where have you been? I’ve been trying to call you for hours.”
I’m aware. “I needed some time to process.”
“I haven’t heard anything official from the Starlight team, so there’s a chance we can salvage this... I don’t know what you did but I can get a team on damage control, I can–”
“Stop.”
“What?”
“I didn’t do anything, Anita.”
“Clover, I don’t think you realize how much–”
“This conversation is over. And so is our working relationship.” I hang up before she has a chance to respond.
Fuck that. A wobbly smile graces my lips. How’s that for a small action? From this day forward, I’m only surrounding myself with people who deserve my time and attention.
It just burns that I so badly want Roman to be one of them.