He fidgeted as I stared at him, for once forcing myself not to make the moment easier for Patrice, not to let him off the hook. It was what I’d been doing from the first moment we met. Diffusing and putting him at ease so he wouldn’t run off on me. I was done with that.

“Have a good day, Patrice.”

I walked out of his place, determined to stay away. I wanted him, and judging by the sex we’d had and what he’d made me feel, I probably would always want him. But there was nothing I could do to keep Patrice from running, because no matter what it was, he’d always find a reason to.

I’d grabbed the phone out of my pocket to send a quick message to my dad when I saw a new text from Ron.

There was another one. We need to figure something out.

I felt a shiver run through my body. I wondered if he was referring to Ari or if someone else had been stopped. I quickly tapped a message telling him I’d call him in a few minutes.

I texted my dad as I walked into my apartment.

I’ll be there.

I had obligations, I had work to do.

My needs would have to take a back seat for once.

Patrice

I could’ve handled that better.

I was still standing by the door a long time after Easton left. Hating myself for once again making him feel like shit for something I wanted just as much as he did.

There was no question about that. Half of the time I felt like I had no idea what I was doing whenever Easton was involved. Except that was a lie. I knew I wanted him, that whenever I was with him I felt free and at ease. That he always left me wanting more. I just didn’t want to admit it to myself for much longer than it took to make us both come, and in the process, I kept hurting Easton.

I was about to go back to grading papers, which was what I’d been trying to do all morning, when a knock on my door shifted my attention off my fuckboy nonsense. I glanced at the clock on the mantel and realized it was past noon already. It had to be Ari. He’d gone to take Yin home, and he told me he’d be back so we could talk since we never got the chance yesterday.

As I moved to the door I felt glad that I’d at least showered while Easton napped and wasn’t going to meet with my mentee after the weekend he’d had smelling like come.