Two weeks with Mr.Selfish

Part 18

 Part 18

As I stared motionless at the bouquet of yellow roses between Duke’s fingers, their emerald stems clipped neatly and wrapped in a crème-colored silk ribbon, the sound of Leoni’s voice neared with her accompanying light, rapid footsteps. I turned my attention from the beautiful flowers to the two figures standing near me – first at Leoni, whose visage was contorted sourly in clear irritation – and then to Zayn, who stood unmoving with his syrupy gaze locked menacingly on Duke.

Leoni blinked quickly, clearing her throat gently as her thin, tan fingers latched onto Zayn’s bare forearm. “Zayn,” she whispered in a quiet murmur, gently shaking his arm impatiently. “What are you doing?”

The sound of a throat clearing echoed once more, but I immediately recognized the deeper sound as one from Duke, and when I reverted my attention back to him, the flowers were lowered to his side and his cobalt eyes were fixated on my blonde roommate.

“I thought you were leaving,” he spoke up evenly, his gaze flickering between her and Zayn every so often. “I was hoping to have some time alone with Sam.”

“Oh, you can!” Leoni quickly responded, flashing him a sweet bright smile and tugging more insistently at Zayn’s lower arm. “We’ll leave you two alone, we’re going no – “

“I’m not going anywhere.”

The silence that followed Zayn’s deep voice was nearly deafening, and I wasn’t aware that I’d been holding my breath until a tight discomfort constricted within my chest. As I exhaled unevenly through my nose, I looked to Zayn’s taller figure standing beside me, and I was aware that the cold, hard expression on his handsome features was directed immediately at the face of my ex-boyfriend. Leoni’s light blue eyes were also locked in on his face, but undeniable shock and confusion were evident on her softer features.

As she reached up to tuck a piece of her wheat-colored hair behind her ear with a free hand, a nervous laugh escaped her glossed lips. “Zayn, we’re going,” she murmured slowly, her eyes hardening considerably. “Sam needs her privacy, we can go to get something to eat – “

“Did you not hear me?” he interrupted sharply, finally turning his attention away from Duke and onto Leoni’s bemused façade. With a slow movement, he reached over to her fingers, still latched adamantly onto his arm, and pried them off with clear inconsideration. “I’m not leaving.”

I was sure that my heart was going to stop in my chest at the rate it was pounding within my ribs – and I was even more sure that I wanted it to – because in that moment I was aware of the predicament I found myself in. I was standing in my living room with my ex-boyfriend and an assortment of gorgeous yellow roses – the same person that had caused me to encounter the indifferent and wealthy English boy situated a mere few inches from my body – and my insufferable blonde roommate who had no clue of the messiness to come stood obliviously at his side. I was suddenly aware of the consequences of allowing the four of us to continue interacting, and decided to take a step forward towards Zayn’s lean form.

I coughed gently at the back of my throat, and when Zayn’s coffee-colored eyes finally locked on mine, I knew for certain my heart was going to rupture. His lazy gaze locked on mine and didn’t falter for even a moment, and I found the ordinary task of just breathing to be near impossible. With a shaky intake of breath, I nodded tentatively at him, swallowing against the lump that had settled in my throat.

“You – “ my words broke off as I tore my eyes from his to look down at the tops of my shoes. “ – You and Leoni should go, I – “ I licked at my lower lip and then let my gaze flit up to his. “ – I need some time alone.”