She studies her nails before giving me a smirk. “A few states away by now I’d think.”
I’ve never considered myself a slow man, but I’m baffled by what in the hell is going on. “He asked me to drop by—”
“I’m the one who sent you the text. Did you know you can call or text and make it look as if someone else did it? Technology is simply amazing these days.”
“What the fuck are you up to?” I snap, pissed I’ve been played.
She clicks her tongue. “Temper, temper. And here I was trying to be nice.”
“I’m out of here,” I spit as I turn to leave before she stops me in my tracks with her next words.
“Didn’t you ever wonder how Cassie found out you’d cheated on her?” I freeze, before whirling around. “Ah, finally I have your attention,” she sneers. “Have a seat and I’ll tell you all about it.”
Putting my hands on my hips, I try to figure out what her game is. “I see you’ve been chatting with your long-lost sister. What makes you think I give a shit what she’s had to say?”
Giving me a pitying look she says, “You know I really expected better from you of all people. You’re supposed to have some kind of wonder-boy IQ, yet you’ve never put the pieces together. In the beginning, it was funny, then after a while, it just annoyed me. I mean, how could I enjoy my revenge if no one fucking knew it?”
She’s beginning to sound like Cassie in one of her manic rages, which is unsettling. Apparently, they’ve been spending too much time together. “Listen, Monique,” I begin dismissively, “I have no wish to rehash the past.”
“No, goddammit, you’re going to hear me. I’ve waited for this moment for years and you’re not leaving!”
Holy fuck, do I just drive women off the deep end or something? Even though I’m not even slightly interested in anything she has to say, it seems easier to let her get it out so I can get the hell out of here. I walk over to an armchair and sit down in it, thinking that maybe she’ll relax if I’m not towering over her. “All right, I’m listening, Monique.”
My ploy appears to work and she calms almost immediately. “Good, Luc. Thank you. Would you care for something to drink?”
Is she for real? She’s managed to get me here by lying her ass off and now we’re having a cocktail party? “Er…no, I’m fine.”
She moves to perch on the edge of the sofa and folds her hands primly in her lap. “As I was saying, Luc,” she begins softly, “I’ve been waiting for some time for you to remember me. You see, we all went to college together.”
“I’m aware of that, Monique. I’m sorry, but I don’t recall ever meeting you there.”
Her face reddens and she takes a couple of deep breaths before once again giving me a pleasant smile that makes my skin crawl. Something is seriously off with her. “We had Psychology and U.S. Government together. I sat behind you in one class and beside you in the other. You always said hello to me,” she adds almost shyly. “I’d see you walking around campus with Cassie and you two looked like movie stars. You were nice though and she was mean. No matter how many times I tried to talk to her, she wasn’t interested. She even called me a loser and told me to get lost. Can you believe that?”
Shifting uncomfortably, I say, “I’m sorry about that, Monique. Cassie had some problems as I’m sure you’re now aware of.”
“She was a bitch!” Monique hisses, looking angry once again. “Cassie was a horrible person who didn’t deserve you. Why did you stay with her when she treated you that way? I saw her screaming at you, but you never left her. You were a good person and she was evil to you and everyone else.”
I’m flabbergasted by the turn this conversation has taken. Was Monique stalking Cassie and me in college? It damn sure sounds like it. I need to defuse this situation and leave until I can regroup. Where is Aidan? Why would he be a few states away? He mentioned nothing to me about leaving town when we talked earlier. “Things were complicated then, Monique,” I say soothingly.
“I know,” she agrees, “that’s why you were so upset that night. I fixed your drinks strong to help you relax and it worked. You finally realized how much we cared for each other. From the first moment I saw you, I knew I wanted my first time to be with you. And it was everything I’d always dreamed it would be.”
“My God, Monique, what are you saying?” I gasp. A sick feeling hits me and I struggle to control the bile rushing up my throat. Please, no.
She gives me what can only be called a loving look. “We were finally together that night, Luc. I was there when you needed me and I thought I was going to be your girlfriend. Then you left and went back to her. You said it shouldn’t have happened and you apologized. I understood what you needed from me, though. You were too nice to break up with Cassie, so I did it for you.”