And I couldn’t freaking believe what my eyes were seeing.
“What the hell is going on?” I demanded, as I stood in the doorway of Mike’s apartment.
Cam stood inside the door, wrapped in a towel.
Mike stood behind her, clad in a pair of boxer shorts.
I really didn’t know why I was asking that question.
It was obvious from their guilty faces, and near naked bodies, exactly, what was going on…which stemmed my next question.
“Let me rephrase my question to- how long has this been going on?”
Cam shuddered, tears filled her eyes. “Oh, Lee…”
“How long?” I demanded. “Is this a new thing, or…”
My words trailed off as my brain put the pieces together.
“Oh my god,” I gasped in disgust, realization dawning on me. “That’s why were so horrible to me for being friends with Mike,” I said, disgusted. “You were jealous.”
“Lee,” Mike said, but I waved a hand at him.
“Tell me one thing,” I asked Cam. “How many months have you been cheating on Derek, and lying to all of us?”
“It wasn’t like that,” Mike added defensively. “We’re in love. We love each other, Lee...”
“How long, Camryn?” I urged.
“Since January,” she whispered, lowering her eyes. “It just happened. One night, after visiting you, we went to a bar, had too much to drink…and then things just happened. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone, especially Derek. But I fell in love him and I can’t change the way I feel..”
“Well,” I said stiffly. “I guess I know one thing.” I glared at Mike as I spoke. “Kyle was dead right about you.”
*****
Kyle was leaning against my bedroom door when I got home.
“Baby,” he whispered standing up.
“Don’t,” I warned.
Stepping around him, I walked inside and slammed my door.
I started pulling my clothes out of my wardrobe quickly and packing them in my duffel bag.
When I first escaped my life in Louisiana, I didn’t think there could be any reason, or force on this earth, that would send me home to my daddy.
I obviously hadn’t added Kyle Carter, into that equation.
My door flew open, and Kyle stormed in.
I ignored him and continued packing.
I was so done. I couldn’t take it anymore. I couldn’t. I’d had enough of Rachel. I’d had enough of it all.
“What are you doing?” he asked, reaching out to touch me.
I was having none of it.
“Don’t touch me.”
He balled his fists, his body shuddered. “Why are you doing this to me? You know I love you.”
“Just not enough,” I sneered, grabbing my underwear out of a drawer and tossing it in a bag. “Not enough to walk away from her.”
She was the crux of all our problems. Rachel would always find a way to get in between us.
He lowered his head. “You don’t get it, baby, Rachel is sick. She is having some kind of a breakdown.”
“Oh, I get it, Kyle,” I screamed. “I get that you have an irrational need to protect that girl. Maybe it’s because you think you owe her, but I can clearly see it’s because you love her. You’re so consumed in her.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” he demanded, grabbing my arms, forcing me to look at him. “I love you, you idiot. I’m in love with YOU.”
“I don’t want to see you again,” I sobbed, delirious with emotional grief. “I am better off without all of you, than just a piece of you. I do not want to be anybody’s second best. I’d rather do this alone.”
He gripped my arm. “Lee, you don’t mean that.”
I pulled away from him. “No, Kyle, I really think I do. I cannot live like this anymore.”
I couldn’t live with the lies, or the constant worrying.
“So, what are you saying?” he demanded, his voice cracking. “You don’t love me anymore? You’re going to let Rachel break us apart again?”
“I’m saying that I am going home.”
Kyle looked at me confused. “What are you talking about? You live here.”
“I’m going home, Kyle, to Louisiana. I’m going home to my daddy.”
“Is that some kind of joke?” he demanded, eyes locked on mine. “Is that some kind of sick, fucking joke?”
I shook my head, as Kyle stared at me, seemingly frozen.
Finally, he moved, shaking his head. “No, you’re fucking not.”
“Oh, yes, I am. Now leave me alone.”
“There is no fucking way, you are going back there so he can use you as a punching bag,” he snarled, unzipping my bags and tipping my clothes out on the floor.