Chapter 4

Anne's POV

"You know Anne," she said, "your neck looks a little... marked? Like you have some bruises there."

Everyone went quiet. All of them staring at me.

I touched my throat without thinking. Then I remembered, Owen's mouth on my skin, his teeth, his hands holding me down while he fucked me senseless yesterday afternoon.

"Looks like someone's been having fun," Mae continued, "Your private life must be pretty exciting."

My hand dropped.

He told her. The thought crashed through my brain. He told Mae about me. About us. About what we'd been doing for eight months. And Mae was standing here right now, marking her territory, making absolutely sure I knew exactly where I stood.

I grabbed my purse. "I have to go."

"Already?" Mae's smile stayed frozen in place. "But you just got here."

"I have someone waiting for me."

"Who?" Owen said.

I looked at him and saw the way his eyebrows pulled together, the way his mouth opened just a little.

"None of your business," I said.

I turned around and pushed through the crowd.

"Anne, wait—"

Owen's hand caught my wrist.

I jerked away hard. "Don't touch me."

"What's your problem?" He moved closer and blocked my path. "You've been acting weird all night."

"My problem?" I almost laughed. "Are you serious right now?"

"You're being dramatic," he said. "I was just telling some funny stories. Everyone does that. It's not a big deal."

"Right. Not a big deal."

I reached into my purse and pulled out the necklace box. His eyes went to it immediately.

"Here." I shoved it at his chest. "Take it."

He caught it without thinking. "Anne—"

"Don't." I stepped back. "Just don't."

"Come on, you don't have to—"

"Enjoy your marriage," I said. "I hope you two are very happy together."

I walked out before he could say anything else.

I got in the first cab I saw outside the hotel.

"Where to?" the driver asked.

I gave him my address and leaned back against the seat. My phone buzzed with a text from Dad asking if I was okay.

I'm fine. Heading home. See you later.

I turned my phone face down and watched the city lights blur past the window. The cab stopped at a red light and a couple crossed the street in front of us, holding hands. The girl laughed at something the guy said and he pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head.

I looked away.

When I got home, the house was dark. Mom and Dad were still at the party, probably making small talk with Owen's parents.

I went straight to my room and closed the door. I didn't bother changing, just kicked off my shoes and fell onto the bed.

The ceiling fan spun in slow circles above me and I watched it go around and around. Owen's voice kept playing in my head.

She's got this rough personality. Kind of abrasive.

Guys don't really go for her.

I rolled onto my side and pulled my knees to my chest.

We're fuck buddies.

My eyes burned but I was too tired to cry anymore. The engagement party kept replaying behind my eyelids.

I pulled the blanket over my head and squeezed my eyes shut. Sleep came in waves where I'd drift off and then jerk awake with my heart pounding. The room felt too quiet and too dark and my mind wouldn't stop spinning.

I turned over and buried my face in the pillow. Finally exhaustion dragged me under and I fell asleep hard.

The phone ringing pulled me back up.

I opened my eyes but everything was dark. The phone kept ringing and I fumbled for it on the nightstand and squinted at the screen.

Owen.

3:17 AM.

My heart jumped.

I answered. "Hello?"

"Anne..." His voice came through broken and shaky. "Anne, please..."

I sat up fast. "What's wrong? What happened?"

"I need you." He sounded terrible, like he was shaking. "Can you... can you come over? Please?"

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"Just come. Please." His voice cracked. "I'm sorry, I just... I need you here. It's important."

My hands were already reaching for my jeans. "Okay. I'm coming. Are you at home?"

"Yeah. Please hurry."

The line went dead.

I yanked on my jeans and grabbed a sweatshirt and my fingers shook as I tied my shoes. What happened? Is he hurt? Did something happen with Mae? I grabbed my keys and ran out of the house.

The streets were empty. I drove too fast.

Owen's building came into view and I parked crooked and ran to the entrance. The lobby was silent and I crossed to the elevator.

I pressed the button for his floor. Finally the doors opened and I ran down the hallway to his apartment.

I stopped in front of his door and reached for the keypad. My fingers knew the code by heart because I'd typed it a hundred times.

The pad beeped and a red light flashed.

PASSWORD INCORRECT

I stared at it. That was wrong.

I tried again, slower this time.

Beep. Red light.

PASSWORD INCORRECT

What the fuck?

I pressed the doorbell and held it down. The buzzing sound echoed inside but nobody came.

I pulled out my phone and called him. It rang and rang.

"Hello?" Owen's voice came through clear and steady.

"I'm outside," I said. "The code isn't working."

"Oh, yeah. I changed it."

I froze. "What?"

"The password. I changed it." He sounded completely normal, like he wasn't just sobbing on the phone five minutes ago. "Hang on, let me unlock it for you."

"Owen, what's going on? Are you okay? You sounded—"

"I'm fine. Door should be open now."

I pushed the door and it swung open. The apartment was completely dark with every light off.

"Where are you?" I stepped inside. "Owen?"

"I'm not there," he said.