“You cheated on me.” That was the simple fact. “You were with someone else. You didn’t want me.”
And there was someone next door that did.
“I was just…sowing my wild oats.” Josie came sauntering up. “Come on, baby. You know how hot we are together.”
“Were.” Fuck. This was the Josie she’d fallen for, all this swagger and heat. “I’m not interested anymore, Josie. And you can’t just show up in my life like this anymore.”
“I did, though, and I’m going to make it up to you.” Josie moved closer, then her eyes narrowed. “You’ve got a hickey. You naughty girl. You were cheating too.”
“No.” She took a step back, trying to put some space between them. “Who I’ve been with or not with since you dumped me is none of your business. But I wasn’t with anyone before but you.” She didn’t need to justify herself to Josie.
A knock came to the hotel room door. “Ms. Martin? Do you need assistance?”
Ah, Bryan.
“Hello, Bryan. Yes, please.” She moved around Josie in a wide arc to get the door.
“I’m sorry for the inconvenience. Ma’am, you’ll need to come with me.” Bryan looked at Josie as he entered the room, then motioned behind him at the door.
“What? No! I’m the wife! I belong here.”
“Ma’am, I will call the police and have you arrested for trespassing. Please, come with me.” Look at Bryan, being all businesslike and forceful.
Now that she had a little distance, she could breathe again. “Goodbye, Josie. You cheating little twat.”
“Don’t say I didn’t give you another chance, baby. You want to end things? This is your fault.” Bryan was herding Josie from the room, but she kept on talking.
“I take full fucking credit! Thank you, Bryan.” Marissa slammed the door feeling powerful for all of two seconds, and then she burst into tears.
“Oh, Mari…” Suddenly Beks was right there, arms soft and warm around her. “I have you.”
“I’m so sorry.” She leaned for a second, then remembered Bekka’s foot and looked at her, sniffling. “You need to sit. We should sit.”
“I’m all about sitting.” Bekka used her sleeve to dab at her tears. “You’re amazing.”
She snorted and shook her head as she helped Beks get to the little couch at the end of their suite. There was a stool there that Beks liked to put her foot up on.
“She actually accusedmeof cheating.” She swiped at her eyes, wishing the tears would stop.
“Right? I don’t understand what she was thinking. You’re not a fool.” Bekka never stopped touching her.
“She probablywasthinking I’m a fool. I was before. I didn’t see what was going on, I let her get away with everything.” She was a complete idiot.
“Not today you didn’t.”
She nodded, studying her fingers. “No.” That was true; she’d gotten to put Josie in her place. “I was mad today. Who does that? She’s impulsive, but to fly all the way out here? That was just…bizarre.”
“You must have a thing for women that follow their hearts, huh?” Bekka chuckled, soft and sweet, but a little sad.
“Yeah. I think I do.” Josie wasn’t following her heart though, she was following her ego. But she knew Beks meant what she was saying. She was struck suddenly by the image of Beks shrinking away into the next room. “God, I’m so sorry to do that to you. Are you okay?”
“I’m solid. I just wanted to give you space, and to call Bry and have him come up.” Bekka squeezed her hand, holding on.
“Thanks for doing that. He was awesome. I’m glad you’re here.” She kissed Bekka’s fingers. It was nice to have someone make her a priority. She liked how that felt.
“I’m proud I didn’t pop her in the nose. Oh. Or kick her in the shins.”
“I would totally have backed you up if you had. I’m more of a scratch your eyes out type.” She laughed but it came out more bitter than she’d intended.