Dylan faked an exaggerated yawn. “If the inquisition is over, it’s been a long day. I’m going take a quick shower and go to bed.”
Haven was still uneasy, but what was she supposed to do? She didn’t have any proof and wanted so badly to believe him.
Her mind was racing. Was Dylan lying? Was he telling the truth? Was he cheating . . . again?
He reached for her and pulled her body into his. She pushed him away. He reached for her again. The second time she didn’t fight but angrily walked into his arms. It was what she really wanted—for it to be just the two of them. He took her arms and wrapped them around his waist and pressed her head against his chest. Dylan spoke softly into her ear. “Don’t make fires where there aren’t any.”
Was it her own insecurities working against her? She didn’t know and didn’t trust herself. Haven spoke in a barely-there whisper. “I was hoping you had a little energy left for me. That’s what my message said.” Dylan tightened his hold on her, and she inhaled. That’s when it hit her like a MACK truck, the light scent of floral perfume.
Before she could react, his cell phone vibrated on the counter. They both looked at it at the same time. Haven shoved with both hands as she pushed him away.
“Why are you always so pissed? I can’t win with you!” The phone continued to buzz all over the counter, and Dylan seemed content with ignoring it.
Haven’s eyes narrowed. “Are you going to get that?”
“It’s late. Whoever it is, I’ll call them back tomorrow.”
The tiny hairs over her body stood up. “I wonder if it’s the same woman whose perfume is on your shirt!” After a second of indecision, Haven stalked over to the phone. As soon as Dylan realized what she was about to do, he moved to grab the phone before she could. Unfortunately, Haven beat him to it.
Chest heaving, she answered it. “Hello?”
There was silence on the other end. Her stomach bottomed out. She could hear someone breathing yet they didn’t say a word. She yelled into the mouthpiece, “If you didn’t know, I’m Haven Shaw, Dylan’s girlfriend! The woman he lives with!” The line went dead.
Dylan snatched the phone out of her hand. “What the hell, Haven? You’re acting like you’ve lost your damned mind!”
She turned accusing eyes at him and screamed at the top of her lungs, “Who was that, Dylan!? What bitch is calling your phone this time of morning!?!”
“How the hell should I know!?”
“Because SHE was calling you!”
“She? Did she have a name? Who did they say it was?”
“You’re playing games. Whoever it was decided to breathe heavy enough to let me know they were on the line before hanging up.”
Dylan shook his head and brushed past her. “No one even said anything? Wow. You never cease to amaze me. I’ve done everything in my power to make you trust me again, but it’s going to be your insecurities that will kill this relationship before another woman will.”
Haven followed him out of the kitchen toward the bathroom. “I hate feeling like this. If I’m insecure, it’s because you’ve made me this way!”
Dylan ignored her outburst and slammed the bathroom door in her face.
She stood there like an idiot staring at it until the shower came on. Then, slowly, Haven backed away, walking into their office with her mind made up. She had to get the hell out of this toxic relationship. Lately, she was acting so crazy; even she didn’t recognize herself.
*****
Haven was sick to her stomach. The sun would be coming up in a couple of hours. After her fight with Dylan, she couldn’t go in their bedroom and sleep next to him. She was afraid she might put a pillow over his face and suffocate him. Instead, Haven started to formulate plans for what she was going to do next. After going online to check her bank account, she was devastated. The numbers on her laptop started to blur as tears dripped onto the keyboard.
She had two hundred and sixty-three dollars to her name. Her next paycheck would only net her another eight hundred dollars. That wasn’t enough to get her own place. What the hell, Haven? When did you start to depend completely on this man and not have a plan for your own damn self? She should never have listened to him tell her not to worry about money—or how they were a team and would get married as soon as they accomplished a few things, and for her to only focus on finishing her degree. Now, she was in an impossible situation and felt trapped.
Who could she crash with? All of her friends were Dylan’s friends. There was no way she would put them in the middle of their mess—and they wouldn’t want to be. Then, there was her mother, but she lived with a drunk. That relationship was worse than hers. Katrina Shaw was in no position to help her. There was always Ms. McKenna, but that was her boss. She wasn’t going to take advantage of her. Disgusted, she dropped her head into her hands.
Her thoughts were so loud that she didn’t hear Dylan walk into the room. He went behind her and leaned his head low nestling his lips into the soft curve of her neck kissing her tender skin.
She jumped
