Chapter 32 Presley

“Presley,” Oliver says.

I’m standing in clear view now, my eyes glued to the television. I don’t even know when my feet carried me into the room, but Oliver’s spotted me.

“Why are you . . .”

But I can’t hear him. The anchors casually toss grenades back and forth with their words—phrases like “outed by an anonymous source” and “public shame” and “reputation on the line.” I can barely make sense of it.

Dominic’s face is angled away from me, and I look at him imploringly, unable to read him. I just want to know what terrible thoughts are running through his head right now. His body is pulled tight like a string, like he’s about to snap.

Oliver sighs, pulling me out of my tunnel vision. When we make eye contact, he lets loose a strangled sort of laugh. “Well . . . this is awkward. Are you guys together?”

Dominic says, “No,” at the same moment I say, “Yes.”

My face flushes hot with emotion. Well, that’s humiliating.

Oliver takes that as his cue to leave.

“I’ll see you both at work.” Before he closes the door behind him, he pauses. “Just let me know if I can help you, man.”

The door clicks shut.

I take a shaky breath, processing everything that’s just happened.

Help Dominic? The idea that Dominic would let anyone help him almost makes me laugh. If he could, Dominic would do everything himself. I don’t know how he’s going to get out of this shit show without the help of Oliver, his PR team, me . . .

“No.”

The memory of Dominic’s hollow answer to Oliver’s question about us resounds through me. Staring at the stony wall of his back, I finally comprehend the bitter reality of his feelings for me.

As much as he cares for me, for my body, or for my popularity with his daughters . . . he will never make room for me in his life.

He has told me in so many different ways, so many different times over the past couple of months. Every time we had the chance to grow closer or shut the door on our issues, he chose to shut me out. I romanticized our relationship in my head, but the truth is, he neglected or completely ignored me more times than I can count.

Latent rage bubbles like lava beneath the surface of my calm, and my eyes flood with angry tears. You tried so hard, Presley.

You’ve done everything you can for him. He’s made it clear he doesn’t want you. Are you going to go down with him too?

“Presley,” he mutters, his voice hoarse, and I brace myself. “I—”

“TV?”

We both whip around to see Lacey rubbing her eyes sleepily. Over the sound of blood rushing in my ears, I didn’t hear her tiny feet approaching.

My heart softens. She looks like a little angel in her white pajamas and beautiful bedhead of messy curls. She yawns and scrunches her eyes closed, giving Dominic enough time to shut the TV off. It would be horrible for the girls to see their father like this, even though we both know they could neither read nor understand what’s on the screen.

“No TV. Let’s go back to bed,” he says firmly. His voice is clear and calm, like he wasn’t just about to break my heart into a million ugly pieces.

I can imagine exactly what he’d say. I can’t have more complications. And he would be right. He has two daughters and an entire company to look out for in the wake of this tabloid drama.

He takes Lacey’s little hand in his and turns her back toward her room.

“Emilia had bad dream,” she tells him. “Booming. Was monster?”

Oh, so they did hear the door.

“No monsters out here. We should go check on your sister, hmm?”

Dom doesn’t spare me a second glance as he lifts Lacey into his strong arms, his bare feet padding down the hall.

With every second I stand alone in his living room, I feel pieces of myself disappear. I could very well be a ghost, haunting a future I’ll never have.

I finally understand my place here—it isn’t my place at all.

I walk down the hall, slipping past the family that will never be mine, and into his room. With shaking hands, I undo each button of the shirt I’m wearing, fold it carefully, and ceremoniously place it on the covers. I mentally say good-bye to the bed where I lost my virginity. When I take my things, there will be no trace of me left here.

I yank on the clothes I first dressed in thirty-six hours ago, grab my bag, and head for the door. As I pass the girls’ room, I can hear Dominic’s low voice promising them that he’ll scare away all the monsters.

I don’t even check to see if he looks through the doorway to catch me before I leave. I couldn’t say no to him if he asked me to stay. Or worse, I couldn’t handle it if he said nothing to me at all.

So I won’t give him the chance.