“An okay person? Wow. That qualifies as a compliment?”
He ignored her and kept speaking. “I was stating a fact, not trying to compliment you. Anyway, I’m going to give you some advice. Maybe you should ask yourself if you’re happy. If the answer is no, you should do something about it.”
He was the second person on the same day to ask that question. “What? I don’t seem happy?”
“The way you’re looking at me right now, no. I’m not sure if it’s him or me that you want to kill.”
“At the moment, both of you! Unlike guys, I don’t see relationships as disposable. Dylan and I have been together for four years!” She held up four fingers and wiggled them. “Count them . . . four! We have soul ties.” Her voice cracked. “I . . . I just want us to work.” She was out of control telling Ellis all of her business. Haven had to get a grip.
Calmly, he responded. “But, does he?”
The fight went out of her. Her voice was barely there. “He says he does.”
“So, you’re with him because you’re supposed to be or because you want to be?”
She opened her mouth to speak. Not only did Haven not have an answer, but she also couldn't seem to utter a word.
“If you can’t answer that question, who’s kidding who?”
“I don’t want to talk about this.”
“Fine. But, I didn’t take you for a woman who lied to herself.” Ellis turned on the radio and didn’t say another word for the rest of the drive to his grandmother’s house.
The ride back went surprisingly fast. They pulled up in front of Ms. McKenna’s home next to a silver BMW i8.
“I wonder who’s visiting your grandmother this late. She should be in bed.” Her question wasn’t really directed to Ellis just spoken out loud.
It touched him to see her concern. Ellis turned the engine off to his car. “I had a rental delivered. You’ll need something until your vehicle is fixed.”
She whipped her head around. “You . . . got me a car?”
“No, I leased you a car until yours is fixed, and my reasons were purely selfish.” His arrogant lop-sided grin spoke volumes. He was so full of himself it was ridiculous. “Had you been nicer to me, maybe I would have given it to you.” No, he wouldn’t have. Ellis still wasn’t sure he could trust her. At least, that’s what he kept telling himself. He knew what snakes were and had dealt with plenty of them. Though, most likely, Haven’s only problem was being a difficult woman.
He tried to give her the keys. She wouldn’t accept them.
“I can’t take a car from you. It’s just . . . this is too much.”
He shrugged. “My grandmother has come to depend on you. Seeing you makes her smile, so for now, I don’t want to interrupt that routine. Lyft is always an option. But how are you going to get back here in the morning? I would think that could be somewhat expensive given how far away you live.”
“You know where I live?”
“There’s not much I don’t know. You’re spending time with my grandmother. You had to know that I ran a full background check on you.”
Her face scrunched up. “Weirdly, I feel . . . somewhat violated.”
“You shouldn’t. It’s standard practice in our circles. You would make a choir girl seem like a stripper.”
Deep down that comment touched a nerve. Maybe that was the problem between Dylan and her. Maybe she was too vanilla.
He continued to tease. “You should spice it up just a little.” He flashed that sexy-as-sin grin before turning serious. “Stop being proud and take the damn car.” He opened his door and got out.
His words weighed heavily on her. The seeds of a plan started to form in her head. Maybe he could . . . ? No. She couldn’t ask him to help her with Dylan. Could she?
Ellis came around and opened her door, and she got out. For now, she would mull it over. In the meantime, Haven couldn’t take her eyes off of the shiny new BMW. She walked around it as if she were afraid to touch it. “I’ve never driven in anything this expensive before.”
It was obviously no big deal for Ellis. “It’s just a car, Haven. A leased car.”
She smiled. “To you, maybe.”
“Look, woman, I’ve got calls to make. Are you going to stand out here like a deer in headlights all night, fawning, or are you going to get in and go home?”
Ellis handed her the keys.
Tentatively, this time she took them. “Thank you.”
“Whatever, just don’t hit anything. Now, go home. It’s getting late.” Deep down, Ellis felt as if he owed Haven for being there for his grandmother. The least he could do was help her out with a car. “Call me so that I know you made it safely.”
Haven surprised herself when she threw her arms around his neck, unintentionally pressing her body into his. “Thank you so much!”
His arms instinctively wrapped around her. The sweet smell of coconut in her hair was surprisingly soothing. The softness of her body melded perfectly to his. She felt good in his arms—too good.
Slowly, Haven stepped away, a little uncomfortable because they were just a little too close. A lot too close. She cleared her throat. “Sorry, I just got a little carried away.”
“It’s late. You’re tired, and so am I. You should get going.”
She nodded. “Yeah, uh-right.” Haven was hesitant. “Ellis . . . I’ve said this a few times tonight but thanks for everything. I’ll call as soon as I get home.” They’d known each other for barely twenty-four hours, he still got on her last nerve, but if she were honest, in that short amount of time, she’d been able to depend on him more than Dylan.
“Good.”
Haven got in the car, pressed a button, and the engine started right up. It purred like a kitten.
Ellis watched as she drove off and wondered what the hell was that zing in the pit of his stomach when her body pressed into his. It was something he’d never experienced. He was thankful for two things: one, she had a man; and two, but most important, Haven was his grandmother’s friend and thus completely off-limits. Otherwise, she would have been a great distraction while visiting.
Chapter 6
It was after nine p.m. when Haven finally arrived at their apartment, and Dylan still wasn’t home. She was dog tired but giddy about the car. It drove like a dream. Before she got buried underneath homework, she decided to call Ellis and then take a quick shower.
Haven didn’t have his cell number, so she called the house phone. She hoped it didn’t wake up Ms. McKenna. If Ellis didn’t pick up on the second ring, she was going to hang up.
He answered. “Why are you calling me on this phone?”
“How’d you know it was me? Never mind. I never got your cell number. I’m home.”
“Good. Glad you made it.”
“Thanks again for the car.”
“Don’t get used to it. It’s a lease.”
“I know but still.”
“Yeah. Well, don’t go thinking I’m a nice guy and all of that.”
Haven laughed. “Believe me. You are in no danger of that. I just wanted to call and say thanks again . . . for everything.”
“You’re welcome. Goodnight.” The line went dead.
Inwardly, Haven smiled. The shower was calling her name. Maybe Dylan would be home by the time she got out. She hoped anyway.
As time crept along, her nerves continued to get more and more frayed. Her mind wouldn’t shut off, and she couldn’t keep her thoughts at bay. Was Dylan really at work? Maybe, when she got out of the shower, she should put on some clothes and just drive by his office to check? Almost as quickly as she thought about it, she decided against it. No. You’ve got to trust him.
Dylan promised he would never cheat on her again if she took him back. Haven had to believe him for their relationship to work. She couldn’t get suspicious every time he was late or didn’t answer her phone calls. Without trust, their relationship would have no chance. That’s what she kept telling herself.
Have
n closed her eyes, threw her head back, and sighed. She wondered how long before things got back to normal again? It had already been six months, and the pain was just as raw as when she first found out he was cheating.
The usually therapeutic shower wasn’t helping to calm her nerves. Haven turned off the water, stepped out, and walked into their bedroom wrapped only in a towel. The most natural thing for her to do was to pull out a comfortable pair of pajama bottoms and a fitted tank. However, Ms. McKenna was right. She needed to do something to change the dynamic of her and Dylan’s relationship. The current state of their relationship just wasn’t what either of them needed. So, instead of doing the usual, she pulled out a pale-yellow silk nightie. It barely covered her ass. However, comfort wasn’t the intent when she bought it. Dylan said he liked the contrast of it against her caramel skin. Haven would do anything to get back to how they used to be. So, she shimmied into it and smiled thinking of what his reaction would be when he saw her.
Another hour later, and frustrated that he wasn’t home, the cell phone sitting on the nightstand was calling her name. Haven could almost hear it say; you know you want to, so what are you waiting for? Call him. She gave in, picked up the phone and dialed his number. It rang a few times but eventually went to voicemail. Instead of hanging up, Haven left a message. “Hey.” She tried to sound sexy. “I’ve left a few messages. I’m a little worried and hope you’re okay. Call me.” After disconnecting the call, and being slightly disappointed, Haven pulled on her fluffy terrycloth robe then went into their office to do her homework. She could be sexy when Dylan came home. Until, then, she needed to be comfortable.
At eleven p.m., he still was nowhere to be found. Haven tried his number again with the same result—voicemail. He hadn’t picked up. Since she left him messages earlier, she decided against leaving another one. Unable to concentrate, Haven called a mutual friend, Andrea. She didn’t want to put her in the middle since she was just as much Dylan’s friend as hers—if not more, since Haven had been introduced to her through him.
“Hey? Are you busy?”
Andrea held the phone between her ear and shoulder. “No. I just put the baby back down to sleep. What’s up?”
Haven swallowed her anxiety. Her voice was soft. “I need you to talk me down from the ledge.”
Andrea was hesitant. “Okaaaay. What’s going on?”
“Dylan’s not home from work yet, and I’m freaking out a little. I’m tempted to take my ass over to his job to make sure he’s really there. His shift usually ends around four, and it’s after eleven. He should be home.” He was driving Haven crazy, and her behavior was way out of character.
“Haven, don’t do anything if you’re not ready to deal with the consequences.”
“What does that mean? Is there something you know that you’re not telling me?”
“It just means, what it means—no more and no less.”
Andrea didn’t really answer her question. “I’m sorry. It’s just, Dylan and I talked earlier, but it’s eleven p.m. He didn’t mention hanging out with friends after work or anything? Is he maybe with Zack?”
Andrea sighed. “We have a new baby. Zack values his life, so he knows better than to be out this late. Honestly, Haven, I don’t want to get into the middle of anything between you and Dylan.”
Haven chewed on her bottom lip. Andrea wasn’t giving her you’re-being-ridiculous vibes but more like I-know-more-than-I’m-willing-to-tell ones. Her anxiety shot up not down. “I know. I’m sorry. It’s just . . . Never mind. I know you and Dylan are close, and I shouldn’t have even asked.”
Before Andrea could respond, Haven heard a noise. “Wait, I think I hear him coming through the front door now. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Good. I’m glad he’s home. Maybe we can do lunch or go shopping this weekend?”
Haven was so distracted that she hadn’t actually heard Andrea. “Hmmm . . . what? Yes, of course, that sounds great. We’ll chat in the next couple of days to firm up a time. Talk to you later.” Quickly, she disconnected the call and waited for him to come into the bedroom. Haven was pissed, but what else was new.
When Dylan entered the room, the top two buttons on his wrinkled white shirt were already undone, and Haven could see a dusting of blonde hair peeking out from beneath. Only yesterday, she had picked up that shirt and others like it from the cleaners.
She stared him down. “No, hello?”
He wouldn’t look in her direction. “I can already see you’re pissed and ready to fight. I’m tired and don’t want to deal with it until tomorrow.” Dylan threw his suit jacket on a chair next to his side of the bed, and as he moved closer, he seemed irritated. He pulled some loose change out of his pocket, took off his watch, and dropped them on his nightstand. “I need a shower.”
Haven got a whiff of him as he moved around the room. Nausea rose up in the pit of her stomach. She whispered, “I can smell her on you.”
Finally, his eyes met hers. “What?” He spoke as if he hadn’t understood.
Her voice became a menacing growl as she enunciated each word. “I. Can. Smell. Her. On. You!”
Dylan ran his hands down his face. “Don’t start, Haven. I’m tired. I worked hard today, and I just want a shower so I can go to sleep.”
He started to walk away, but Haven quickly climbed out of bed to block his path. “No. You want to wash her off before you get in bed with me.”
“Move, Haven! I told you I’m not doing this with you. You’re fuckin’ nuts for no reason.” He dismissed her words and attempted to brush past her.
Not tonight—Haven refused to do this same old dance with him again. She was going to be heard. “You’re telling me not to start? Yet, you come home to our apartment, smelling like cheap perfume and sex.”
Dylan didn’t say anything.
Her eyes watered. “You’re not even going to deny it this time? Has our relationship sunk so low that you don’t even care enough about my feelings to make up an excuse?”
His voice rose. “I don’t need an excuse!”
Haven pressed her lips together to keep them from trembling. “You can’t even be bothered to make one up?”
Dylan was tired of it all too. He dropped his hands to his side. “What do you want me to say?”
Haven’s tears spilled over. “Tell me you were with a friend, tell me you lost track of time and fell asleep somewhere, or better still . . . tell me you won’t put me through this again!”
Dylan raked his fingers through his hair. “Fine. I was with Zack. Happy?” It was more than obvious that he didn’t give two shits about her or her feelings.
Haven lost it. She balled up her fists and started pummeling his chest and screaming. “You lying bastard! We’ve been together for four years! I’ve given you everything! EVERYTHING! And all you’ve done is put me through hell?! You sorry sonofabitch! How could you do this to me?! I hate you . . . I HAAATE you!”
Her hands moved wildly connecting not only with his chest but smashing into the left side of his face before Dylan was finally able to catch her arms by her wrists.
The person who looked down on her had the face of a stranger. The man she remembered was gone. His face was scrunched up as if she’d done something wrong. Lips that used to kiss her so tenderly were now pressed into a thin firm line. What hurt Haven the most was his eyes. They used to twinkle and sparkle every time he glanced her way. Now, they lacked any warmth as they bore angrily down into hers. “Stop it, Haven!”
She stilled holding his eyes hostage, hoping that Dylan would not only see but feel the pain he caused. There was no way to control her tears as they fell down like a torrential rain. “I’m acting like a crazy freak because I want things to go back to the way they were between us.” Her high-pitched voice was strangled with pain and laced with rage. “Was that witch so important that you couldn’t even come home at a decent hour?”
Dylan shoved Haven away. She fell backward. Her arms and legs were sprawled out on the
bed, and her nightgown was hiked up to her thighs. It barely covered her chest while it heaved up and down.
“You don’t want to hear the truth. You want to pretend like everything between us is great when you and I both know it’s not.”
Haven pleaded. “Then, let’s fix what’s wrong.” Her voice broke. Partly because she was angry, but more so because she loved someone who was absolutely no good for her. “You take a piece of me every time something like this happens.”
“I’m not responsible for that. That’s between you and God.”
Why was he talking to her like this? Haven couldn’t believe the words coming out of his mouth. “How can you say that? I would walk in front of a bus before I would be careless with your heart.”
Dylan pivoted and turned away. His words were bitter. “Like I said, I need a shower, and some of us have to go to work tomorrow.”
“So do I, but I’m willing—”
He turned, and the anger that radiated off of him was palpable. Dylan cut her off. “No, what I do is work. I bring home a paycheck that barely takes care of us. What you do is hang out with that old woman for pennies on the dollar and complain all the damn time! The person I was in love with had goals and ambitions. She wouldn’t have fallen apart because life got hard!”
“Is that what you really think of me? I work, and I’m in school full-time. I think that’s pretty ambitious.”
“You used to be fun . . . full of life. Not this person who can barely put one foot in front of the other and has wallowed so deeply in her pain I can’t even find her. So, don’t talk to me about being a stranger. I sleep next to a cold and frigid one every night!”
Haven had no idea where all of this was coming from. Yes, she did. He blamed her. “I’m doing the best I can, Dylan.”
A Reservation for One (Untamed Love Series Book 1) Page 4