Bentley (Hawthorne Brothers Book One)(32)

“You’re such a fucking bitch. I hate you,” I said, looking at Candice.

She laughed, wiping her lips, and I ran after Anna. This couldn’t be happening.





Chapter Twenty-Seven



Anna



I never thought that Bentley would betray me. I ran to the coat check, grabbing my coat and purse, before running outside and opening my Uber app. With a car nearby, I requested it, just wanting to get far away from here as fast as possible.

Bentley didn’t come out after me, either because he was too busy sucking face with Candice or because he just didn’t even care. I felt so foolish. I liked him so much, even thinking that I was falling for him, and I was so convinced that he was the one. We had such a good relationship, and all along it was too good to be true. Had he been seeing other women besides Candice? Had I just been some inside joke this entire time? Maybe I wasn’t good-looking enough for him and he felt like he needed more. Whatever the case, I was a fool.

The Uber driver pulled up and I got in, telling him Bentley’s address, since my car was still there. He pulled away, and I texted Nina and Maggie, telling them everything. Maggie wanted to kick his ass, and Nina didn’t have much to say. I guess I didn’t expect them to say much, but I just wanted to vent and tell somebody. I guess what really hurt was that he told me to my face that there was nothing with Candice and that essentially I was the only person for him. He told me to my face and I believed his lying ass. Somebody should give him a fucking Oscar for that performance!

After about fifteen minutes the driver pulled up to his house, and I got out and into my car. A few foggy streetlamps lit up his street as the clouds above began to sprinkle. Maybe it was the heavens crying for me, who knows, but as I started my car and put on my seatbelt, I broke down.

With my head against my steering wheel, I cried harder than I had in years, letting it all out, as the pain of what I’d seen finally hit me. I felt my phone buzz, and saw it was Bentley, asking where I was and saying that he wanted to talk to me. I didn’t bother replying, instead putting my phone on silent. I knew he wasn’t going to come here; he probably thought I was still inside somewhere hiding, but I was far from hiding. I didn’t even care about my bag inside his house. I’d send Nina or Maggie to get it for me tomorrow or the next day. I just didn’t care anymore.

After ten minutes I regained enough composure to put my car into drive and pull away from the curb as I headed home with tears still falling from my eyes. Nina and Maggie were waiting for me at the door. They opened it when I pulled up, before coming out barefoot to get me.

“Are you okay?” Nina asked as she helped me out of the car.

“No,” I said, crying.

“Come on, let’s get you inside,” she said as I shuffled my feet.

“So what happened exactly?” Maggie asked.

“I saw him kissing Candice, that girl he used to date,” I said.

“And you’re sure it was him?” Maggie asked.

“I’m positive. He turned around and looked at me with a shocked look, like I’d just walked in on them. It was him,” I said.

“Pig,” Maggie said.

“Did he say anything?” Nina asked.

“I think he wanted me to stop, but I didn’t care or listen. I just got out of there and ran outside. I took an Uber to my car at his house and then came here,” I said.

“Has he texted you since?” Nina asked.

“I put my phone on silent, I don’t know,” I said.

“Check,” she said.

I pulled out my phone and unlocked it to see I had five texts and three missed calls from him.

“I can’t read them,” I said.

“I will for you,” Nina said, taking my phone.

I looked at her as she read them to gauge her response, and it confused me even more.

“It seems like he’s really sorry or something. He said in the last one that it wasn’t what it looked like,” Nina said.

“Oh, and how isn’t it? I saw him kissing her. It’s exactly what it looks like,” I said, wiping my eyes.

“He’s trying to find out where you are. Do I say something?” Nina asked.

“No,” I said, grabbing my phone back. “I don’t want to talk to him right now.”

“Are you ever going to?” Maggie asked.

“I guess I have to at some point. He still has my bag at his place,” I said.

“Yeah, but I meant about your relationship,” Maggie said.

“We don’t have one anymore. It’s over,” I said.

“You two were just so good together too, that’s what gets me about all this. It just didn’t seem like he’d do something like this. He was really into you, so why would he just go and ruin all of that?” Maggie asked.

“I don’t know, and I don’t care. I hate him,” I said.

“You’re just upset and emotional right now. Maybe you need something to drink and to calm down a little. We don’t know the full story,” Nina said.

“So you’re siding with him?” I asked in a disgusted tone.

“You need to not accuse us of anything and calm down. I’m getting you something to drink,” Maggie said, getting up.

“I’m sorry, I’m just on edge right now. My life is crumbling around me and I have nothing to cling to anymore,” I said.

“It’s fine, we’re not mad, we’re just worried for you is all. We want to make sure you’re okay,” Nina said.

“What did I do to deserve this? Why doesn’t he want me?” I asked, breaking down again and crying my eyes out.

Nina grabbed me, pulling me in close, as she ran her fingers through my hair and comforted me more than she ever had before. I needed comfort right now. I needed solace.





Chapter Twenty-Eight



Bentley



I wanted to strangle my cousin for inviting Candice to the wedding.

Anna wasn’t picking up her phone or answering my texts or calls, and I searched high and low for her here without any luck. I didn’t even know if she was still here. I drove us, so it wasn’t like she drove away.

My mother, likely seeing how distressed I was standing around, walked up to me to find out what was wrong.

“You look stressed,” she said, rubbing my back.

“I am,” I said.

“What’s wrong? Tell me,” she said.

“Anna left,” I said, wiping my forehead.

“The girl you brought?” she asked.

“Yeah, the girl I brought. She’s more than that, though,” I said.

“What is she?” she asked.

“She is, or was, my girlfriend,” I said.

“What?” she asked, in shock.

“I brought her today to introduce you to her and to the rest of the family. I only wanted to bring her when the time was right, and I thought this would be the right time,” I said.

“Come here, sit down with me and talk,” she said.

We walked over to a few empty chairs off to the side, and I could see her mother face coming on. She only put this face on when she was being serious, or when somebody was very hurt. I guess both of those things applied.

“How long have you been seeing her?” she asked.

“A couple months. She’s probably the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” I said.

“And you’re just now introducing her to us?” she asked.

“Yeah, I know you’re probably pissed about that, but I don’t really care right now, not to be rude. Something happened tonight that ruined everything, and I’m not sure we can come back from it,” I said.

“I know you’re hurting, so I’m going to let that back-talk slide right now, but don’t let it happen again. What happened that ruined everything?” she asked.

“I was in the bathroom and Candice walked in on me. She was drunk, and begging me to take her back. I told her I didn’t want her any longer, and that she should just go away, and when I went outside she followed me out. She grabbed me and kissed me, without my consent, and Anna saw the whole thing. She thinks I was making out with Candice or something, I don’t know,” I said.

“Did you explain what happened?” she asked.

“I tried to, but she ran away before I could get anything out. I don’t know where she went. I’ve called and texted a bunch of times, but no reply,” I said.

“Well, if you’ve searched and can’t find her, I’m sure she left,” she said.

“But I drove,” I said.

“Maybe a friend picked her up, who knows. The fact is that you need to go after her, honey,” she said.

“But she doesn’t want to talk to me,” I said.

“She wants to talk to you, she just might think she doesn’t. The fact is that she saw something that hurt her tonight, but it wasn’t real. Candice had no right to do that to you if you didn’t want it, and this Anna needs to know the truth of what’s happened. You need to go to her, Bentley,” she said.

“Where do I find her?” I asked, as if she knew where Anna was hiding.

“Go to her home. I’m sure she’s there,” she said.

“I’m sorry for not introducing you to her sooner. I just wanted to make sure things were going to work,” I said.

“Can I ask you something? Do you love this girl?” she asked.