Curtains Read Online Free PDF Page B

before you left for the Caymans , " he answered without hesitation . " He was at your house . "
    " Our house, Violet , " Alex snapped behind me.
    " Not anymore , " Rhys challenged, taking a step forward.
    " What in the hell do I have to do to get the men in my life to be honest with me ! " I felt sick as I backed away from them both. I shook my head back and forth, trying to wrap my mind around the level of betrayal I felt in that moment.
    " You , " I directed to Rhys, whose eyes shot to mine . " You were supposed to be different . "
    " I am different and you know it , " he said firmly . " I ' m the only real thing yo u ' ve got , " he said, his eyes turning cold as he watched me.
    " I do n ' t think your fucking qualified to tell me wha t ' s real, Rhys , " I snapped, keeping my voice even though my heart was falling away piece by piece.
    " No , " he said icily . " I guess your fucking fantasy is just a little safer, right? Do n ' t worry, Violet, tonight I ' ll play the bad guy . " He charged Alex and punched him square across the jaw, sending him to the gravel as he cursed and then glared between us . " You two really should learn how to listen. And, Violet, when you figure out just what in the hell it is that you want, we should talk . "
    " Something you are completely fucking incapable of apparently , " I shot back , " honesty . "
    The level of hurt I saw in his posture almost knocked me down with guilt. He got in his sedan and left. I turned to Alex, who was still on the ground holding his jaw, then back to Rhy s ' s retreating car.
    Walking to my car, I did not give a damn about Alex or his newly aching jaw. As I was reaching for the handle, he protested.
    " Just let me talk to you . " I turned to face him. He was standing now, still cupping his face as a small amount of blood trickled from his lips. I closed my car door and charged him.
    " Talk , " I snapped, ready for the answers I had deserved for far too long.
    " I ' ve always been this way and I ' ve always hidden it. When I met you, I fell for you, Violet, I did. I truly loved you, but no matter how hard I tried, it was still there. I still wante d .. . men. And then I met Chris and it just happened . "
    " How long ? " I asked, hating myself for it.
    " A little over a year , " he said, shoving his hands in his pockets, his jaw turning purple.
    " I knew that . " I could n ' t control my disgust.
    " I was going to end it, Violet, I was. Get it out of my system, be a better husband, but I fell in lov e — "
    " Skip it, I do n ' t care. How did Sandra fall into this ? "
    " We were away on that weekend retreat to brainstorm for new ideas for the Lux campaign and she brought him. She introduced me to him. It started with him, Violet. I had no idea abou t— they introduced me to all of this , " he said, pointing at the club . " Everything changed for me. I had no idea how to explain this to you. I was completely selfish. I wanted him . "
    " So you and Sandra ? " I asked, suddenly feeling guilty for even having the discussion.
    " I hate her, but she has Chris, so I stay. She threatens me with outing me all the time to keep me in line. You know my parents. I would lose everything . "
    " So you are n ' t int o — "
    " I ' m gay , " he admitted.
    " And all the phone calls ? " I asked.
    " At her insistence. And now that I think about it, I ' m sure she wanted you to know. Sh e ' s sic k — "
    I held my hand up . " No, i t ' s you. Blaming her is easy. You did this to yourself and to me. You let it all happen. Jesus, Alex, how could you be so cruel ? "
    " Violet, just know that I ' m sorry. What I did was unforgivable and I ' ll always regret hurting you, always . "
    " I can see yo u ' re sincere and I sincerely do n ' t give a shit. I can also see that yo u ' re drowning in misery . " I took a step toward him, my curiosity getting the best of me . " Tell me, Alex, why, if h e ' s the one you want, ca n ' t you get him away from her ? "
    " He loves her , " he said with a