<b>Chapter 22 </b>
Addison
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“Let’s head out now.” He announced after doing up his shirt that was struggling against hisrge muscles. I swallowed emptyily and forcefully tore my eyes away from that sight. I was about to turn around when he grabbed my hand and tugged me back so I mmed against his chest. His hand
settled on my waist, then he was brushing his lips against my forehead.
My eyes widened. The spot he just kissed felt so warm, and feeling horrified and confused, I pulled
back, regarding him wearily.
“What was that?” I demanded and he shrugged his shoulders.
“Nothing.” He murmured and I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to figure out why he was extra touchy this morning, but when I didn’t find anything, I turned away while puffing out a sigh,
Calm down, Addison. I said to myself over and over again, then I assured myself that all of that meant nothing, and that I’d set down firm rules after we returned from our fake date. After all, we’re about to leave right now so there wasn’t any time left to have that conversation right now.
As soon as we both stepped out of the room, his phone began to ring and as he stared at the phone screen, he let out a small cuss and I arched a brow at him.
“Is that one of your fuck buddies?” I drawled before I realized what I said, then I bit on my bottom lip while wishing I could take that back cause it almost awejed like I cared about who called him when I definitely don’t.
He arched a brow at me, his lips twitching. “Why? You jealous?”
I let out a scoff as I rolled my eyes. “In your dreams, Zane.” I tell him before turning away and starting to climb down the stairs.
I vaguely heard the bedroom door clicking shut, indicating that he went in to answer that call. Well, I’d just wait for him downstairs till he was done, and he could take all the time he needed.
Once I got to the bottom of the stairs, I was forced to stop in my tracks cause Aisha and Marco were kissing right by the end of the stairs, grinding against each other. Disgust and jealousy curled in the bottom of my stomach as I stared at them, unable to tear my eyes away while I imagined myself in Aisha’s ce, like I always do whenever I watch them kiss like this.
After a while, on realizing that I’d look like a creep, I climbed the rest of the way down and was walking past them when they noticed me and slowly pulled away.
11:51 Wed, 3 SeptA
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“Did you sleep well?” He finally asked and I nodded, my chest growing warm from that question. I might still be mad at him fromst night, over the fact that instead of defending me when hist girlfriend thought we were doing something bad when we clearly weren’t, he worsened the situation by making a joke that I was still in love with him.
“Yeah, I did.”
Aisha tugged him back into a kiss before he could ask me any more questions, and I rolled my eyes in irritation, wishing there was a way for me to take out Aisha from the picture without murder.
I went over to the kitchen and was pouring myself coffee from the pot of coffee sitting in there, and as
I sipped on it, I made small conversations with some of the girls present in the kitchen. They were girlfriends of some of Marco’s friends, which is why they’re nice to me. Unlike them, the friends of
Aisha all hated me like Aisha did, and they never bothered to hide their hatred whenever I was in the same space as them.
After the girls left, I let out an exhale, then I silently asked myself if I did the right thing by fucking Zane
I was stirring my coffee when Marco stepped into the kitchen, and I instantly tensed up, my heartbeat
elerating on realizing that we were alone in here. Although I was feeling excitement curl through
my insides right now cause I always like it whenever I’m alone with him, afterst night’s conversation with Zane on the beach whereby I had broken down, I had promised him that I’d avoid being in
private with Marco.
I want to blurt out an excuse, to say I have to go do something, just so I’d step out of this kitchen right
now<i>, </i>but those words didn’t get past my throat.
“Addison, can I privately speak to you right now? It won’t take long.” He began as he rounded the counter to step closer to me, and at once, my heartbeat picked up. When he stopped tight in front of me, I wanted to move, to put some distance between us at least, but it felt like my legs were stuck to the ground.
I opened my mouth to refuse and to tell him I can’t privately speak to him because I have a date with Zane right now, and that I was also mad at him fromst night, but no sound came out. Instead, I was unconsciously hoping that he’d touch my arm or my face, or pull me into a hug
Gods. I’m really so pathetic.
“Since when did you start dressing like this?” He stated, his eyes taking over my dress and a look of disappointment on his face that had my heart sinking into my stomach.
“Oh- Zane got it for me.” I muttered and he scoffed.
11:51 Wed, 3 Sept
“Of course he did. Let me guess, he’s forcing you to dress like this, right?”
My eyes darted around and I was trying toe up with a means to leave this kitchen right now, cause I can still remember Zane telling me that if I didn’t try to stop being so pathetic, I’ll forever remain pathetic.
Which was why I exhaled before forcing myself to step away from him, putting some space between us. A frown instantly settled on his face and he instantly tried to close the distance between us but I held a hand up with all my will, even though I badly wanted to bury that same hand into his hair and tug him into my arms.
“What you didst night wasn’t cool, Marco.” I breathed out and he frowned, a confused look on his face, which genuinely irritated me.
“Last night where your girlfriend was using me of messing with you in here! You didn’t say anything when you should have. You remained silent, which made her believe the worst. To worsen things, you made that stupid joke of me still being in love with you.” I was ring at him right now, feeling genuine anger within me cause recounting that incident madest night’s feelings during that confrontation resurface in my mind.
“And why do you keep doing that? It’s embarrassing as hell and I don’t find that funny, Marco. Can you stop that?” I added and he let out a sigh as he dragged a hand over his face.
“I’m so sorry, Addison.<i>” </i>He breathed out and I rolled my eyes, not feeling satisfied by those words, cause he really hurt me.
“I really am<i>.</i><i>” </i>He insisted, stepping closer and I swallowed emptily as our eyes locked, making my breath catch in my throat. My mouth suddenly felt dry, and when he stepped closer, I couldn’t ask him to stay back.
I was saved by a cherry voice ringing out by the hallway leading into the kitchen.
“Marco! Where are you? Mom is here right now!”
That voice was so familiar, it made terror roll down my spine. That voice tormented me for months, and also made me cry myself to sleep so many times, back when Marco and I were still dating,
Marco’s mother.
Marco had a shocked expression on as he whirled around and headed to the entrance of the kitchen, but his mother was already meeting him in the doorway, looking like she hadn’t aged a day in the five years Ist saw her.
“Mom, what are <i>you </i>doing here!? You’re not supposed to be here till a day to the wedding.” Marco
11:52 Wed, 3 Sept A
sighed as he hugged his mother.
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“Is that any way to greet your mother? Besides, I only apanied Aisha’s mother cause she wanted to hand Aisha some dresses. We’ll be leaving almost immediately cause we don’t wanna intrude on you youngsters fun.” She chuckled at the end of her sentence, then she was stepping around her son into the kitchen.
I quickly whirled around, not wanting her to see me. My eyes darted around <i>for </i>a means of escape but there was none aside from the doorway Marco was still standing in.
Fuck!
The first andst time I met Marco’s mother, she told me to my face that I wasn’t good enough for her son, then she took her time to list out all my insecurities; which haunted me for months.
I pretended like I was busy in the sink, hoping she’d leave this kitchen right now<i>, </i>but I’ve never had a good luck to begin with, cause she headed straight for this same sink to wash her hand.
I quickly whirled sideways, but it seems like I was toote, cause she was slowly walking around till she was standing right in front of me, and as soon as It clicked within her, a murderous expression
settler over her face.
“Oh my god! Marco, what is she doing here?” She screeched, rearing backward like being close to me might make her breathe in my wretchedness.
“Oh, she’s here to support me at my wedding.” Marco responded almost offhandedly and when I nced over my shoulder, I noticed he was on his phone.
“But why? What do <i>you </i>need her support for? It’s not like she got rich overnight, did she? I thought
to!” you stayed away <i>from </i>her like we asked you
Marco sighed as he nced up. “I did, but we became friends again.”
That made me frown. His parents asked him to stay away from me…?
His mother began to pace, looking furious as hell. “I cannot allow this, I’ll have her thrown out at once! You shouldn’t have invited her at all, Marco! She was just a leech, and was only after your money. I’m sure she’s here cause she ns to sabotage your wedding and you I refuse to stand by and let that happen!” She was yelling in a really loud voice and in no time, everyone was gathering around in the doorway and I wished I could evaporate into thin air at once,
“Mrs. Carter, like Marco said, I’m really here to support him and nothing more.” I began but she shushed me fast.
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“Oh, don’t speak in my presence. Oh, look. You’re even uglier than you were five years ago.<i>” </i>She snapped and I flinched.
“You’ll go get your things right now, then you’ll leave here at once.” Marco’s mother continued, still furious as hell.
Before I could even think of a response, a voice was speaking.
“And why would my girlfriend be doing that?”
I stiffened, then whirled around to see Zane stepping into the kitchen to drape an arm over my shoulder, a scowl on his face as he spoke.
“Hello, mother. Would you like to exin to me why you were just humiliating and harassing my girlfriend like this?”
Wed,