A Way Out

Chapter 24

"You have got to be fucking kidding me." When I arrived home, I tried to head straight to my bedroom, hoping Raleigh was getting ready for bed. I could have known it was an effortless attempt when I found Raleigh sitting on my bed, looking as angry as ever. Her indigo eyes shot fire at me when I tried to tiptoe into my room.

The first five minutes I acted as if my night hadn't been eventful. After those five minutes, Raleigh threw a pillow at me, aimed at my head. She told me to cut the bullshit, so I spilled the beans. I told her everything, from the moment Jake entered the coffee shop until Donovan dropped me off in front of our apartment.

"Unfortunately, not," I grumbled, before sitting next to her on my bed and placing my head against the headboard in defeat. I didn't know what to do with myself. Before I paced up and down my room as I told Raleigh everything, trying to make some sense of what happened whilst I talked.

I looked at Raleigh, who still seemed to be at a loss for words. The moment I thought she was going to speak, she closed her mouth again, a confused look painting her face. I had to admit, even I had a hard time comprehending the mess I worked myself into. I dealt with two men. One broken beyond repair, the other lost, unable to find his way. Thinking of Jake as broken saddened me. Something in his life shattered him and sadly, I wasn't the right person to pick up the pieces. Jake needed help, something I couldn't give him.

"Okay," Raleigh started. She pursed her lips and frowned. Then she nodded as if she agreed with whatever she was about to say. "I'm proud of you for standing up for yourself. Knowing Jake, you probably scared him off."

I smiled at her words, happy to have finally done something right.

"I don't know about Donovan, though," she added. I perked up, giving her a puzzled look.

"O come on, Eve. You and I both know that this will lead to disaster. What he is doing to you isn't fair and you know it. If he wants to be with you then he needs to come clean. He can't keep you in the dark," Raleigh explained.

She was right. I knew she was. Maybe what Donovan was hiding was far worse than I expected. I only focused on getting closer to him. On making sure that whatever we had wouldn't evaporate into thin air. I was so blind to the consequences and only lived in what now could be. What I wanted it to be. My worries should lie on what he kept hidden.

"You're right. I just..." I didn't know what to say for it to make sense.

Raleigh prevented my thoughts from mashing together and grabbed my hand. "I get it, Eve. Honestly, I do, but I don't want to see you heartbroken over a guy who isn't worthy of you. Not again. You need someone to be there for you wholeheartedly"

Tears threatened to spill as I positioned my head on her shoulder. "I know," I murmured.

We stayed like that for the rest of the night. Raleigh and I talked about anything, but guys, and eventually fell asleep.

"So, what did you want to show me?" I asked Justin a couple of days later as we strolled down the street. He seemed nervous as he walked with a bounce in his stride, making me grin up at him.

"We're almost there," he answered, his eyes widening at the realization.

Justin and I were just outside of town, which was a neighborhood where some little shops were that didn't fit in with the big ones. The neighborhood had its own lovely atmosphere and formed a unique and pleasant shopping area. I came here on my way to work because it gave me a sense of calmness.

"We're here!" Justin exclaimed happily. I looked up to see a vacant building. It could use a lick of paint, but the space shouldn't go to waste. One could do great things with this place, though I wondered why Justin brought me here.