His Ex Moved In? I Kicked Them Both Out

Chapter 2

Something inside me snapped.

I walked over and reached out to pull Bella off him, but Arthur's arm shot out, pulling her closer.

He looked at me with eyes full of defensiveness.

"Summer, what on earth are you doing!" he accused, his tone suggesting that I was the outsider.

"I'm your girlfriend!" My voice shook. "You're all over another woman right in front of me, and you're asking me what I'm doing?"

A flicker of unease crossed Arthur's face, but he didn't let go.

Instead, he scooped Bella up in his arms and headed straight for the guest room.

My eyes followed him, watching as he laid her down on the bed with such gentleness, as if she were made of glass.

He pulled the covers over her, tucking the edges in carefully.

When he came out, he even pulled the door shut softly behind him, like he was nursing a sick lover.

I stood there, feeling like a total fool. Arthur walked toward me, and the first thing out of his mouth was a rebuke.

"Summer, Bella is wasted. She doesn't even know what she's doing. Why are you holding it against someone who's drunk? When did you become so unreasonable?"

I was stunned.

All the hurt inside me ignited like gunpowder. "Unreasonable?" My voice shot up.

"I'm your girlfriend! The two of you were all over each other right in front of me! Was I just supposed to pretend I didn't see it?"

Arthur frowned.

"I told you, she's drunk. Let her crash for one night!"

"If she's that drunk, send her home! Why does she have to stay here?"

I was getting more worked up by the second, but Arthur's face just darkened.

"Summer, she's wasted. What if something happens to her on her own? You're being totally irrational."

"I'm being irrational?" I let out a cold laugh.

"Well, let me make this clear: either she goes, or I go. Your call!"

Arthur stared at me, his eyes turning cold.

"You're really going to force my hand like this?"

"I'm forcing your hand?"

I almost laughed at the absurdity.

"You're the one forcing me! You're letting another woman stay in my home. What does that make me?"

"Enough!" Arthur roared.

"Can you not make a federal case out of everything? It's just one night! Can't you be a little more generous?"

"One night? That's your ex-girlfriend!"

Arthur shoved me, hard.

I didn't see it coming.

I stumbled backward, and my lower back slammed into the sharp corner of the coffee table.

A searing pain exploded through me.

My face scrunched up in agony, and tears instantly flooded my eyes.

I collapsed onto the floor, gasping, unable to move an inch.

Arthur panicked.

He rushed over and crouched down to help me up.

His arm hooked around my waist and yanked me forward, tearing at the injury.

The pain was so sharp that my vision went dark.

I heard myself suck in a sharp breath, clenching my teeth to keep from screaming.

"Summer! Summer, are you okay?" Arthur's voice was trembling. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I just..."

I pushed his hand away.

Clenching my jaw, I forced myself up.

Tears splattered onto the floor.

I looked at his panicked face, and suddenly, he felt like a stranger.

"Arthur," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "I'll remember this moment."

He froze.

Holding my back, I grabbed my phone and walked out the door.

My hand brushed against the injury on my waist, and I trembled from the pain.