The playfulness is all gone, replaced by anger as I round the corner and see my ex-wife making herself at home, in my fucking penthouse. She’s sifting through the cupboards, looking for a cup. The kettle boils away in the background.
“You aren’t staying, so I wouldn’t bother making a coffee.”
The only thing stopping me wanting to wring her neck is Maddie.
“Oh, don’t be silly, Grayson. Just go and get rid of your little slut and talk to me properly.” She bites her lip, her eyes roaming up and down my body.
Is she fucking high?
My jaw ticks as I stride toward her. “I don’t think so. And don’t you ever call my girlfriend a slut. Don’t forget who was fucking my best friend behind my back. There’s only one whore in this house, and it’s you.”
“You don’t mean that, you loved me.”
“Did I, really?” I snap, my patience wearing thin. I know for a fact I’ve only felt love for one woman in my life, and she’s in my bed.
“Yes, we had four amazing years together. Can you really just let that go. I miss you.” Her long red nails shoot toward my chest. I flinch and take a step back.
“Why are you here?”
She shuffles her feet, her gaze dropping to the floor.
“I bumped into your mom the other day, in café down the road from ours. She told me about your exciting new life here in New York. I saw the fight last year with Keller. I thought, maybe, enough time has passed for you to finally forgive me. We can make a home again, build a life.” A tear slips down her cheek, it makes me sick.
My nostrils flare, what the fuck does my mom think she’s playing at. I barely speak to her anyway, why would she decide to interfere now?
“It’s his birthday tomorrow.” A tear slips down her cheek, and it makes me sick.
“You need to leave before I strangle you.” I pin her with a glare to show her I’m not joking. I’m not the man she was married to anymore.
“We could help each other. Maybe you need to let it all out with me, fuck me like you used to,” she says, and I squeeze my fists so tight, every muscle popping out of my body.
Rage, pure fucking rage, blinds my vision. As she looks around my home, her eyes almost light up with dollar signs.
“What do you say, a fuck for old time’s sake? To help us grieve?” She sashays, licking her lips, and I cringe, taking a step back.
Delusional.
Something brushes past me from behind, and I flick my head around. All I see is a bundle of bright blonde hair whirl past me.
“I’ve fucking heard enough. Take the fucking hint, woman. He doesn’t want to fuck you. He hates your guts. Now get the fuck out before I kill you first.”
Maddie storms over with anger, grabbing Amelia by the hair and dragging her to the front door.
“Grayson, get this lunatic off me!” Amelia screams in agony, clawing at Maddie’s arms.
I try to contain my laugh as I open the front door, and Maddie shoots me a look. “Thanks.”
Amelia crumples to the floor with a thud as my woman shoves her out.
“You fucking bitch!” She stands and launches herself at Maddie, but I swiftly jump in front of her, and Amelia crashes into me.
“Out!” I roar.
“Never come anywhere near me again, Amelia. Nothing on this planet could ever bring me back to you.” I pull Maddie tight against my side. “This woman is my life. Now get the fuck out of my property.”
Teary-eyed, she leaves.
Jesus fucking Christ.
“Thank you.” I sigh.
Her face lights up. “Your walls are quite thin. I was a bit worried you might actually kill her. Then when I heard her proposition you, I wanted to murder her myself. Plus, you can’t fuck me if your ass is hauled up in jail.”
My sunshine has a little dark side.
“You’re perfect, you know that, right?”
She bites her lip, looking at me through her lashes.
“Perfect to you, maybe.”
“Perfect for me, yes.”
This woman can bring out just about every emotion in me. But this one is the one I crave. Her ability to see me, to accept me. It’s something I never shared with Amelia. I spent our whole relationship hiding behind a mask, pretending that a normal life was enough. She never wanted to hear about any of my kills on duty. She didn’t realize that was my only way of calming the monster within me.
Yet Maddie… she gets me. She doesn’t want me to change; she just wants me to be safe. She just wants to be loved.
Now that’s the person I want to spend the rest of my days with.
“I meant what I said earlier. I love you.” I trail my finger down to that gold sunshine necklace I bought her in London.
“I love you, Grayson. It was perfect when you called me your girlfriend. Do it again.”
No matter how dark my life is, I’ll need her light with me every day.
“You’ll be more than my girlfriend one day.”
The little smile that creeps up on the corner of her mouth just proves to me I am right. She will be my wife.
