Westley You Are Late Chapter 03
By the time the paperwork was finished, only Westley remained in the fluorescent-lit hallway.
Sofia was gone.
He hurried after me, his hand reaching for mine out of habit.
I sidestepped his touch and kept walking toward the exit.
He paused, then caught up and grabbed my arm.
“You’re mad?”
I still didn’t speak, just tried to pull my arm free.
“Okay, my fault.”
His tone was the familiar, half-coaxing one he always used. “When we get home, I’ll make it up to you. Deal?”
When I didn’t answer, he leaned in closer.
“You don’t like that I got into a fight? Fine. I won’t do it again.”
He explained patiently, “Sofia’s ex was a real piece of work. He cheated on her, then tried to blame her for it. I just taught him a little lesson.”
“I promise, no more throwing punches. Don’t be mad, okay?”
As he spoke, his fingers found my palm, tracing two light circles there.
That trick always used to work.
The moment he did that, my anger would start to melt.
But this time, a wave of revulsion washed over me. I yanked my hand back.
His expression hardened. He didn’t say another word.
The ride home was silent.
When we got back to the apartment, I went straight into the master bedroom and shut the door.
I came out a few minutes later with a suitcase in my hand.
Westley was in the kitchen, starting dinner.
He turned at the sound, and his expression faltered when he saw the suitcase.
“You’re leaving?”
I nodded.
He crossed the room and pressed his hand over mine on the handle, his voice softening considerably.
“I was wrong. Don’t go, okay?”
“Let’s take a break.”
“No.”
He pulled me into his arms, burying his face in the curve of my neck.
“I regret it. I shouldn’t have done that. I shouldn’t have worried you.”
“I know it sounds like an excuse now, but I promise you, whatever you don’t like, it won’t happen again.”
Westley knew exactly how to wear me down.
His voice was low, stripped of its usual sharp edge.
“Don’t go, please?”
Maybe the diagnosis had softened me.
With him looking at me like that, I finally gave a small nod.
I thought a promise like that would last for more than a few days.
I was wrong.