Page 23 of My Bully's Crush: Vol1

“What?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.I thought I heard footsteps.”

We both looked at the door as if expecting it to open, both forgetting that it was locked.Sydney got up to go check and came back empty-handed.“No one is out there.”

“It’s fine.I just thought I heard something.Anyway, back to what we were talking about.It feels good to be this honest, this open.If I’d said that to anyone else, I’d never hear the end of it.Everyone else seems to think that I should automatically hate him for what he’s done, and though I am extremely pissed off at him, I can’t just switch off ten years of love and devotion.Not like he so easily did anyway.”

“That’s just it.It doesn’t look like he switched it off at all.There’s something else that I’m not sure I should share, but you’ll hear about it anyway at some point.”

“Oh, shit, what is it?”

“He doesn’t look well.”

“What do you mean?”

“Okay, I didn’t say anything before for obvious reasons, but it’s a known fact that he’s looked like death since the day he got married to her.”

“What do you mean?Like sick from the drugs?”

“That’s part of it, sure, but there’s something else going on.Almost like he’s under some heavy shit; he looks like the walking dead.His eyes always seem glazed over; he just doesn’t look like himself.”

“Oh no, why are you telling me this now?”

“Because I think this is part of your healing, he was a big part of your past, and you yourself admit that you still have feelings for him, so I thought you should know, or at least hear it from me and not some rag.”

“You’re right, but it still doesn’t make me feel any better.You know I only want what’s best for him.Now I’m not sure what’s worst.Thinking that he’d moved on from me or believing that he’s in some kind of danger.”

“If you didn’t care, it wouldn’t matter.Is there any chance that you can give up caring about that heel in this lifetime?Why don’t you go out on a date?”

“Sydney!You know I have no interest in dating anyone.Those days are behind me.”

“How can you say that?You’re still young, you’re gorgeous, and you have a lot to offer.”

“I’m also very ill, still getting over a very bad, very public breakup; who’s gonna want to go out with me and all my baggage?”

“You can’t be serious.Leave it to me.”

“What?What’re you gonna do, you nut?”

“You’ll see.Be ready at eight.”This girl!What is she up to now?

Chapter 16

*Janie*

“It didn’t work; nothing is working.Now all anyone can talk about is how brave she is, and that fucking documentary made it look as if Ryder and I were in the wrong.”I wiped my runny nose with the back of my hand and looked around the kitchen island through puffy eyes.

“I don’t remember her mentioning you.”

“Isn’t it obvious, Nicole?If she’s mentioning her breakup with Ryder, then, of course, she’s talking about me.Don’t you think so, Noel?”Of course, she was talking about me, you bitch.I’m his wife; I’m the one who took him away; I won.

Why is my life going to shit?And why are these two bitches just standing here acting like the same old same old?I bet they’re happy about all this.I bet this was part of their plan.I know that fucking Noel wants to screw my husband, or is it, Nicole?Or maybe both.

I looked back and forth between the two of them as my pulse started racing, and my head felt as if it was about to explode.I’ve tried everything to get Elena Gianni out of the way, and even though she was no longer in our lives, somehow, it still felt like I was living under her shadow.

No matter where I go in this town or anywhere around the world where my husband is known, which means basically everywhere in the free world, I have to endure her name being called.I’m tired of people acting as if I’d committed some grave sin by marrying the love of my life.I’m tired of everyone looking down on me, scorning me, all for that bitch that never deserved my Ryder.

Why am I not good enough?Why won’t they accept me?Other people in this town have broken relationships, so why is everyone acting as if Ryder marrying me and not her is a crime?I’m sick of it, sick of the looks, the heckles, and the damn paparazzi never getting my name right.