Chapter 4 Reckless

He got out of the bathroom at that very moment, like he had sensed something was wrong.

I tilted the phone in his direction, making him squint his eyes at it like he was trying to make out what it was I was showing him, but I wasn't about to let him play dumb.

I sent the phone launching to him and he caught it mid air, a slight displeasure flickered on his expression but it was quickly replaced with something with no emotion.

“Why were you going through my phone?”

His tone was filled with disappointment and anger you'd think I was the one who got caught cheating.

“Who is she?”

“Hailey just because you pay the bills around here doesn't give you the right to invade my privacy,” he warned, his index finger pointing at my face in a silent warning as he took slow steps closer.

“And it gives you the right to cheat on me whenever you want and have the guts to stand there talking about privacy?”

“What are you going to do about it? Leave?” He chuckles, rolling his eyes.

“Come on Hailey, how many times have we done this dance?”

“What dan…..”

“You find out I'm cheating…” he interrupts me mid-sentence. “You get angry, yell at me, give me the silent treatment for a few hours and you're back in my arms in a couple of days.”

My fingers curl up into a ball beside me, teeth clenching hard against my jaw trying to control the flames of rage burning within me, not because of how much his words were slicing through my resolve, but because he was right.

“Since you won't be leaving anyway, maybe skip the angry girlfriend shenanigans and just get used to it, think about how happy we will be if you just accept this side of me.”

“You're a pathetic sick maniac!” I cursed voice burning with venom, stretching each syllable so he doesn't miss a word.

“Ten years Dylan. I've been by your side for ten fucking years, I've supported you the best way I could, making sure you never have to worry about our bills, hell even your own bills. I'm even trying to get a new job so I can finally afford the five thousand dollar gaming set-up you asked for. I put you before myself every fucking day just to make you happy, and this is what I get? Some fucked up sermon about me getting used to you being a lying cheater!!?”

“But I didn't ask you to do any of that now did I? You make it sound like you're some kind of prize I should be grateful for,” He scoffs. shaking his head in disbelief.

"Take a good look at yourself. You're difficult, insecure, and exhausting. Do you honestly think anyone else would put up with you? If I walked out that door today, you'd spend the rest of your life alone, because no sane man would ever want you."

He leaned in, voice dropping to a taunting low.

"So stop acting like you're doing me a favour. The truth is, I'm the best you'll ever get... and even if you hate to admit it, you know it's true.”

I opened my mouth to speak but I just couldn't find the words and I just stood there wondering how I had spent years loving someone who could look me in the eyes and say something so cruel?

My shoulders slumped, more from a mental than a physical exhaustion and I picked up my shoes, grabbing my work bag and a few clothes from my closet before walking past him and going straight to the door.

“Where are you going?” He questioned, following closely behind me.

“I don't think I can do this anymore,” I responded in an almost whisper, but he caught it.

“Wh...what do you mean?”

“You heard what I said.”

He cut in front of me, hands folded, halting my movement. “Are you ending our relationship?”

“I'm tired of giving my all and still not being enough for you,” I try to walk past him but he blocks me again.

“So you're just going to leave without even stopping to think about how I'll feel.”

“Get out of my way.”

“You’re so selfish and self-centred, you never care about those closest to you and it's sick. Look what happened to Lily because you were too busy thinking about only yours….”

I didn't let him complete the last word before cutting him short with a stinging slap across his cheeks.

“Don't you dare mention her name!” I warned bitterly, eyes drilling a hole into his, his palm still resting on the spot my hand had connected with his face, jaws open in disbelief.

The moment I walked out the door, I didn't stop for a second until I felt I was far away from the house, him mentioning Lily's name opened up a wound I've spent years trying to close.

The further I walked, the more his words kept eating at me, a part of me wished this wasn't my reality, and we could both be happy together. It's crazy how someone you love so much can hurt you in ways you'll never understand.

I took a deep exhale

I need to talk to someone before I lose my mind and Avery was the only option I could think of right now, might as well spend the night at hers.

I turned on my phone, tapping and swiping as Dylan's words replayed over and over in my head.

‘No sane man would ever want you.’

I opened my phonebook, ready to call Avery, but instead my eyes drifted to the number I'd written down in my notepad the night before. My thumb hovered above it as a question clawed at the back of my mind.

Was Dylan right?

I knew this wasn't the answer, and maybe I'd regret it the second I hit call, but right now I didn't care. I just needed to know he was wrong, to prove he was wrong.

"Fuck it."

Before I could talk myself out of it, I hit the call button, bringing the phone to my ears, having an internal war within myself if this was a bad idea.

I didn't get the chance to decide before his familiar velvety voice echoed through the speaker. “Hello.”

“H..hey…hello,” I tried to play cool.

“Who's this?”

I took a deep breath, if I want this to work, then I have to act like it.

“The girl from last night, at the club.”

He stayed quiet for a bit before saying, “I knew you'd call.”

"Yeah," I sighed. “I think I'm done cosplaying being a good girl.”

“I'll send you an address.”

One minute I was having an argument with my boyfriend because he cheated, and the next minute I'm about to give myself up to a stranger at the most luxurious hotel I've ever been to.

Maybe this was reckless.

Maybe I'd regret it tomorrow.

But for one night... I needed to feel wanted

I double checked the room number with the one he had texted to make sure I was in the right place, and knocked twice on the door.

After a couple of seconds, the lock clicked and the door cracked open.