Chapter Fifteen
Bianca
My wall has never looked so boring. It’s all I’ve been doing for the last week. Okay, that might be a drastic overstatement . . . but it feels like this is all I’ve been doing. When I chose this wallpaper over a year ago, I picked it because of the thick, gold lines in the chevron pattern. At least, it looked like chevron on the floor. After I left the store I realized I only looked at a portion of the wallpaper. Turns out it isn’t chevron. Instead the lines are in odd shaped squares, triangles, and even in parallel bits. Between the lines are an array of sea greens mixed with blues. The first time I glanced at it, I didn’t feel like I was in an interior decorating store. Instead, I imagined myself in the Museum of Modern Art. That’s when I knew I needed this, because the first damn time it gave me a sense of oasis that I never experienced before.
But not anymore.
Not since I told Stefan what I did.
The last week has gone incredibly slow. I’ve spent every moment of it that I could with my parents, trying to find some sort of way to keep busy. Because if I’m not busy, I think about everything I should’ve said to Stefan, or the things I could be doing.
Then I realize he hasn’t reached out to me either, and it all starts again.
Regret. Fear. Anger. Regret. Fear. Anger.
A constant cycle that’s made up the last seven days.
Ding Dong.
My doorbell ringing through my apartment brings me back to reality. I jump off my bed and pull my silk robe around me, tying it in a knot as I rush to the front door. I peep through the hole and see someone I never expected to— Mircea.
“I know you’re on the other side. You’re not as stealthy as a cheetah, my dear.” Mircea snidely remarks. It’s enough to make me want to open the door, just to give him a snarky reply.
But the second I lay my eyes on him, my attitude doesn’t matter anymore. Instead, the feelings come rushing in. Betraying Stefan. Not understanding why I’m into Mircea, or why even now, I stop getting so anxious.
How is it possible that he’s the reason for this mess? Okay. That’s not fair. I’m the reason for the chaos I’ve created with Stefan. If I hadn’t fucked him, everything might be fine right now.
Shaking my head, I do everything I can to push back my thoughts. “Mircea. What’re you doing here? I mean, fuck, why are you here?” Heat flushes over me, so I push my hair behind my back while I wait for his reply.
“Mmm, thought you might enjoy some company. Haven’t seen much of you this week. You been doing alright?”
“I’m fine, really busy.”
Mircea peers in the doorway and I’m sure he can see my kitchen, or maybe even the circular table with boxes of snacks I’ve been shoving down my throat every day. “Yeah, doesn’t look like that. Considering you have a whole pantry on your table,” His smile makes it burn a little less.
Grabbing the door with my left hand, I pull it against my ass, obstructing the view he has in the apartment. “I’m very busy, so get to your point. You must have one if you came all the way here.”
“I’m just across town. But, I did come here for a reason. I’m taking an impromptu flight to Las Vegas for a night of fun. All this work has stiffened me up a bit.”
“Stiffened you up?” I cock a brow.
He chuckles, dipping his head down a tad. “Not like that. I only mean I need to decompress. Want to come with me?”
I shouldn’t go with him and I know it. I’m in enough shit and this could make things worse. But, Stefan and I aren’t dating. Hell, staying at my place shoving food down my throat and staring at my fucking wallpaper won’t help make anything better.
Plus, I need a good night of drowning my sorrows and dancing my ass off. “Fine. When are you leaving?”
Mircea turns his wrist to glance at his watch. “Let’s say five minutes? Just throw some shit in a bag. You can get ready at my brother’s penthouse. It’s right on the Strip, and there’s a dope club downstairs.”
I release the door and turn, heading to go back into my bedroom. When I’m halfway there I call out behind me, “Give me ten and wait by the door. I need time to go over my outfit options.”
New York is beautiful, but even my home doesn’t compare to this. The city skyline is filled with hues of gold, green, blue, purple, and red. Even shades of pink come through every now and again. I spot taillights lit up in bright cherry red on the main road, showing just how busy the city is, no matter what time of day.
I wrap my arms around myself, aiming to give some sort of comfort. Being here is still a bit uneasy to me, though I needed to get out of the apartment. I had to do something. Sitting around sulking, eating loads of junk food wasn’t going to help me. But, neither is this. At least it’ll give me some time out of the house.
I’m in a blue-black two-piece dress. The top is strappy, kind of like a spaghetti strap cami that was cut off just below the bust. Laces come through the center of the top, much like a corset. While my skirt starts a couple inches below in an asymmetrical pencil type of style. It’s one of the sexiest things I own and something I’ve had in my closet for quite some time. Given it’s flashy as hell, wearing it to Las Vegas seemed like the right thing to do. Shoot, it even shows off my ink in the best way,
