Ties of Bad Love (Book Two)

Chapter Two

                                                                                        Samantha

            I walked all the way back to my apartment in the rain, the rain hiding my tears. It seemed fitting considering what happened tonight. Life continued to throw me curve balls every time something seemed to be going well. When would life stop being so cruel and difficult?

           Tonight, was a disaster much like the past few months have been. Sure, we had our good times too, but those good times were masked by the significant bad times. I loved Levi with all my heart and more, but this is something I just would not be able to get past this time. He humiliated me and turned it into a sick game for his enjoyment. He said everything was real, but it feels more like it was all a lie. Nothing that ever came out of Levi’s mouth was the truth. Hell, I am not entirely sure the guy knows how to tell the truth. Regardless, I am done with Levi. I sighed in defeat, knowing I have said that so many times already. It ended up the same, things would be going well until we had a fight, which would inevitably lead me to figure out something that he had been keeping from me.

           Walking into my apartment felt different like this place meant nothing to me now. Levi tainted even this amazing apartment for me. I sat my things down on the kitchen island while slipping out of my shoes. I did not want to be alone, so I picked up my phone, dialing the one person closest to me right now.

           He picked up on the first ring. “Landon, I hate to be a bother, but can you please come over here?”

           Landon sensed the panic through my constant sobs. “Are you okay?” He asked as he was shuffling around the phone.

           “No, not at all.”

           “Give me twenty minutes and I will be right over.” He hung up the phone after that.

           I took a seat on the couch while staring at the open door to my bedroom. Levi’s things were still in my room like they were sitting there taunting me. My eyes were forced closed as I tried to imagine a world in which Levi was someone different, yet the same. A world where he did not lie. There was no telling how long I was sitting on the couch when a knock came on the door. When I didn’t respond, Landon opened the door, sitting his things next to mine on the kitchen island before he hastily made his way over to me.

           He got down on his knees in front of me, grabbing for both my hands. “What did he do to you this time?”

           My instinct was to defend the guy I had fallen madly in love with, but it was too exhausting and pointless to do anymore. My mind and mouth were not working together here. I tried telling him that I would eventually be okay, that this was only a temporary feeling, but even I couldn’t believe that. The hurt he put on me over the last several months has never gone away, not entirely. Those were the signs leading up to what took place tonight, I was just too blinded to see it.

           Landon rested his head on my lap. Normally I would have told him it was inappropriate, but that too felt pointless. He has done nothing but listen to me b***h about Levi. Landon has been nothing but supportive in my decisions, and for that, I couldn’t be more thankful. If he was not here with me, I had no idea how I would survive this.

           After several minutes of not saying anything, he finally lifted his head to look at me. “Do you want to talk about it?”

           I told him everything not leaving out any of the details this time. Landon needed to know everything starting from the very beginning if he was to understand any of this. When I was done telling him everything that had lead up to this point, he clenched his jaw.

           “I will f*****g kill him.” He stood up, pacing back and forth in front of me while mumbling something under his breath. “If I ever see him again, I am going to beat him half to death. Samantha, you deserve someone so much better.”

           I’ve heard this time and time again. The problem was I didn’t want someone better, I just wanted Levi to get his s**t together. Now that was painfully clear that it would never happen. If he truly loved me like he said he did, he wouldn’t have tried so hard to hide the things from me that would hurt me the most.

           My mouth opened to speak, and this time my brain registered enough for words to form. “He is not worth any of it, I know that now. You do not have to worry. I am done with him for good. What he has done this time is unforgivable.”

           Landon seemed satisfied with my answer. I was content with him not pushing me to say any more than what I have already said.

           “I know you do not see me as more than just a friend, but know that I can take care of you in the way you need to be taken care of.” He bit at his lower lip. “Can I run you a bath for you, maybe?”

           “That would be nice, thank you.”

           As he left the room, I put my hands up to cover my face while the tears began flowing again. I wish the hurt would not be so painful. Is it possible to die from having your heart broken too many times?

           Landon snapped his fingers in front of me. “Did you hear me? I said your bath was ready.”

           “Sorry, I was…distracted.”

           “Please, do not apologize to me. You have nothing to be sorry for. I took it upon myself to remove his things from your room, so you didn’t have to see them heading to the bathroom. I hope that is okay.”

           “That is so great, thank you. Will you come in there with me? I don’t want to be left alone.”

           He nodded his head slightly and followed me inside the bathroom. He was a pure gentleman as he stepped outside the door, waiting for me to undress and slip down inside the bubble bath he had set up for me. When my body was fully submerged, I told him it was okay to come back inside. Landon took a seat on the floor next to me.

           “You know, if you were mine, I would never hurt you as he has.”

           “I know.” I couldn't risk saying anything other than that. The last thing I wanted to do was to lead him on. The thing was, I had slight feelings for Landon, I would be crazy not to after all he has done for me. I didn’t know exactly what that meant, and I wanted to keep it that way for now. Everything was too recent for me to be thinking about someone else. I had no idea if it was even possible to think about anyone other than Levi in that way.

           My body felt nice, and relaxed given my current circumstances. The smartest thing for me to do was to push Levi from my mind. I needed to focus on myself for once instead of having the constant worry of what Levi would do or think about my actions. For once in such a long time, I could be free and do whatever the hell I wanted to.

           Landon started massaging my shoulders as I closed my eyes to try and relax if that was even possible right now. His cold fingers felt nice against my burning hot skin. My head rolled around as he massaged his fingers deeper into my skin. Wow, he was really good at this. Our eyes connected for just a moment. He inched himself closer to me until our lips were almost touching. Then, as if a wake-up call to snap me out of making a horrible mistake, there was a loud knock on my door.

           “I have a feeling I know who that is. Should I tell him to leave?”

           “Tell him whatever you want, but I no longer want to see him again. Make sure he leaves for good and knows that I am done with him.”

           “Are you sure about that? Is that really what you want?”

           “Yes,” I lied.

           “Okay,” he said softly as he started taking off his shirt while walking through my bathroom door.

           “Wait. What are you doing?”

           He smirked at me. “You said you want him to leave you alone, right? The only way that is going to happen is if I lead him to believe something is going on between us. Otherwise, he won’t believe it and will continue to pursue you. Don’t worry, I will not tell him anything is going on between us. It is just best if he sees me without a shirt, his jealousy and bitter mind will do the rest.”

           I didn’t want Levi to think I was sleeping with Landon, but I knew Landon was right. Levi would never leave me alone unless I gave him a reason to. Since Landon was here, this was the better option. Landon left the room, taking my silence as my answer. When he walked out of the room, my heart began to pound loudly against my chest. I knew what Levi's reaction would be, and I knew it wouldn't be good. Retaliation would not normally be my options, but right now, Landon was in control, and I wanted to keep it that way for my sake. If I were to be out there right now, Levi would creep his way back into my life somehow. I just wanted him out of my life at this point. Our whole relationship was built on a lie, a massive lie that I would never be able to forgive him for.

            I could hear the click of the lock, and my hands began to shake.

            "What the f**k?!" Levi screamed, sending waves of fear over me. I sunk as far as I could into the water, hoping it would somehow shield from the scene I knew was about to take place.