Chapter 28
Cal
I heard David's voice outside the bedroom door, and every muscle in my body tightened.
I bent down, grabbed my boxers off the floor, and stepped behind Nia as I pulled them on. Not because I thought he was about to throw a punch.
But if he did, he wasn't getting anywhere near her.
When she opened the door, though, it wasn't anger staring back at us.
It was heartbreak.
"Nia..." David's voice caught. "I thought..."
She immediately shook her head, guilt washing over her face.
"David, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for you to find out like this."
His eyes flickered past her to me before settling back on her.
"I should've known," he said quietly.
She frowned. "Known what?"
He let out a defeated laugh and rubbed the back of his neck.
"It's my fault, really. I knew I should've asked you to be my woman before Thanksgiving. I just... I didn't want to rush you."
My jaw clenched.
"I figured you'd tell me when you were ready." He swallowed. "I just didn't know you needed..." He glanced at me before looking back at her. "...a fling."
"Fling?" The word left my mouth before I could stop it.
David finally looked at me.
"Yeah."
I took a slow step toward him.
"Was it a fling the night of J5's return?"
The room went still.
Nia's head snapped toward me.
"Cal."
David's jaw flexed.
"You know what?" He shook his head. "I don't have time for this."
David looked at Nia one last time, disappointment replacing the hurt in his eyes.
"I really did care about you, Nia."
"David, wait," she said, but he was already walking toward the elevator.
"Cal, how dare you."
Her voice wasn't loud. It was worse. It was ice cold.
"You had no right to air my business out like that. What the hell is wrong with you?"
She was furious. I could practically feel the heat radiating off her as she stormed past me, unzipping her overnight bag. She yanked out a T-shirt and shorts before disappearing into the bathroom.
"Nia..."
"Fuck you, Cal."
The bathroom door swung back open. She was already dressed, her eyes glossy with anger.
"You know, you've always been selfish."
The words hit harder than I expected.
"You didn't think for one second how that would make me feel. You embarrassed me. You embarrassed David."
"I'm sorry."
"No." She shook her head. "You were so busy trying to prove you won that you didn't stop to think I wasn't a prize to be won."
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
"And you want me to trust you with my heart?" she asked, her voice cracking. "After that?"
"Nia, please." I took a cautious step toward her. "I'm sorry. It slipped out. I wasn't thinking. I just... I love you."
"Stop!"
She threw both hands up, stopping me in my tracks.
"Don't use that right now."
Silence settled between us.
"Get out."
My heart sank.
"Nia..."
"I said get out."
"But..."
She pointed toward the front door.
"Leave."
I knew better than to cause a scene. Quietly, I pulled on my pants, gathered the rest of my clothes, and walked out of the room.
The door clicked shut behind me.
I stood there for a long moment, staring at it.
What the hell had I just done?