Chapter 90
RAVEL
PRESENT TIME
The piercing, maddening sound of an unfamiliar ringtone rudely shattered the serenity of my slumber. Groggily, I reluctantly pried open one eye, only to be greeted by an unforgiving wave of throbbing pain in my skull. I couldn’t help but wonder just how much alcohol had crossed my lips the night before. Yet, the persistent ringtone left me with no choice but to coax my other eye open.
As I begrudgingly adjusted to the blaring noise, the first thing that registered in my bleary gaze was the comforting sight of my own bedroom ceiling. My curiosity urged me to crane my neck to the left, desperately scouring for the source of the incessant ring. But my intention to disengage from the bed was abruptly halted as my hand made unexpected contact with a warm, living presence beside me.
Confusion knitted my brows into a perplexed frown as I turned my gaze toward this unexpected bedfellow. A vehement curse involuntarily tumbled from my lips upon beholding the peacefully slumbering form of June. My thoughts raced, frantically attempting to piece together the puzzle of last night’s events. What on earth had transpired during those hazy hours?
As if sensing my intense gaze, she slowly blinked her eyes open, a mischievous smile playing on her lips as our eyes locked. “What’s so amusing?” I snapped, my irritation apparent. “And seriously, why are you in my room?”
Suppressing a yawn, she nonchalantly rose from the bed, letting the duvet slip down to her waist, revealing her bare chest. A wave of nausea swept over me, and I couldn’t help but react sharply. “Cover yourself up!” I scolded.
She rolled her eyes, begrudgingly complying with my request by concealing her exposed chest with the duvet. “Why the sudden irritation?” she retorted. “You weren’t like this last night.”
A sense of dread gnawed at me as I scrambled to piece together the fragmented memories of the previous night. “Oh, da mn. it! What did I do?” I muttered under my breath, fearing I had succumbed to the very thing I’d been trying to avoid. Running my fingers through my tousled morning hair, I attempted to cling to a glimmer of hope. “Can you please enlighten me on what exactly happened last night?”
The infuriating ringtone resurfaced, compelling June to step out of bed, dragging the duvet with her and leaving me unabashedly exposed and vulnerable. She cast a quick glance at the caller ID. “It’s your mom; I need to take this,” she informed me before accepting the call.
“Hello, ma’am,” her voice rang out as she glanced back at me, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes. “Yes, he’s right here with me.” She paused briefly, presumably listening to my mother on the other end of the line. “He appears to be doing fine. Okay, I’ll talk to you later.” With that, she ended the call and turned her attention back to me.
“Your mother needs someone at the hospital,” she explained, gathering her clothes and belongings strewn across the floor.
My mind raced as I seized the opportunity to address the pressing questions from the night before. “Now, can you please tell me what happened last night?” I implored, my memory still hazy but beginning to piece together fragments of our time at the bar. A flicker of realization crossed my face. “Wait, were you the one who paid for the drinks at the bar?”
With a smile gracing her lips, she spoke, her voice filled with hope, “Could this be the moment when I finally receive a heartfelt thank you for assisting you last night?”
1 cautioned myself not to respond with anger, reminding myself that it takes two to create a situation like that. “How did you manage to find yourself in my room? I inquired, my curiosity piqued.
Her smile widened as she reminisced about the events that had unfolded, even though they happened to be my worst nightmare. “I suppose you were overcome with desire last night, she teased, her words laced with a hint of mischief. “You went from being unconscious to lavishing me with kisses all over.”
My glare intensified as frustration seeped into my voice. “Why didn’t you put a stop to it?’ I hissed, my words laced with exasperation. “I was clearly intoxicated and out of my senses! Why didn’t you intervene?”
1/3
She raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes. “Why would I have stopped you?” she scoffed. “You expect me to halt something that I’ve always yearned for?” Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “This is the first time you’ve touched me since we entered into this relationship.”
I let out a deep inhale, desperately hoping for some reassurance. “Please, for the love of all that is holy, tell me that I had the sense to use a condom.” The mere thought of not using protection sent shivers down my spine. Once again, June rolled her eyes at me, as if my question was utterly absurd. “Relax, I’m clean. I got tested just last week,” she replied dismissively, as if that was supposed to ease my worries. What the hell? My heart sank as panic surged through my veins. “I would rather risk contracting a disease than have you end up pregnant, June!” I exclaimed, my voice laced with desperation. Hazel would never forgive me if I let this happen. “Tell me, did I use a condom or not?!” A small yelp escaped June’s lips, startled by the sudden sharpness in my tone. “No, you didn’t,” she admitted, her voice filled with guilt. “I couldn’t find one, and you didn’t want to wait for me to search for one in my room.” My fingers began to tremble uncontrollably as the weight of the situation crashed down on me. “So, in other words, I released inside you?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. June nodded, confirming my worst fears. The overwhelming sense of regret washed over me, making me wish I could just disappear. “Are you on any form of birth control? Pills, perhaps?”
She shot me an indignant glare. “Do you seriously think I’d engage in unprotected sex with you if I weren’t on birth control?” She scoffed, her irritation evident. “Contrary to what you might believe, I have no desire to carry your baby.”
I heaved a sigh of relief. “Well, that’s a mutual agreement then,” I replied, relieved that the risk of an unplanned pregnancy was seemingly averted. “I definitely don’t want you carrying my baby either.”
Just as our conversation seemed to be settling, a knock at the door disrupted our fragile peace. June, defying my glare, moved to answer it. Annoyed, I clambered out of bed, hastily donned my clothes, and took it upon myself to respond to the interruption.
At the door, I found Garfield, the housekeeper, waiting patiently. “Ms. Hazel is in the living room,” he informed me. “She wants to see you.”
My eyes widened in shock at Garfield’s revelation. “Hazel is here?” I stammered, seeking confirmation from him. He simply nodded in response. “I’ll be with her shortly,” I muttered, closing the door behind him.
Turning back to June, my tone had an edge of irritation. “Get out of my room,” I instructed firmly. “I don’t want to see you in here when I come out of the shower.”
I hurried through the shortest shower imaginable, trying to wash away not only the physical dirt but also the overwhelming guilt from the previous night. As I brushed my teeth, a hiss escaped me when I noticed a love mark on my neck. Opting for a turtleneck sweater to conceal the evidence, I hastily grabbed a pair of loose jeans before rushing downstairs to face Hazel,
However, the scene that awaited me in the living room was far from what I had anticipated. June, wearing nothing but my shirt, sat across from Hazel, sporting a sly smile that sent a shiver down my spine.
Hazel’s gaze could have burned a hole through June as she locked eyes with the shirt June was wearing. There was no doubt she recognized it; it was the very shirt I had worn when we exchanged our vows, a shirt she had personally bought for me.
I couldn’t let this confrontation escalate any further. “Hazel,” I whispered, my voice barely audible, but enough to draw her gaze away from June. She finally tore her eyes from June’s figure and looked at me, standing up from her seat. “Excuse us,” I requested, gesturing for June to leave.
She stood up and sashayed out of the living room.
Once we were alone, I couldn’t help but feel anxious. “What did she say to you?” I asked, worried that June might have divulged what had just happened.
Hazel shrugged, a hint of annoyance in her expression. “Nothing, really,” she replied nonchalantly. “I suppose she’s trying to assert her dominance.” Her eyes then softened as she studied me closely. “Are you okay?” she inquired with genuine concern.
I took advantage of the moment, extending my hand toward her with a hopeful expression. “I’ll be even better if you give me a hug,” I admitted.
Hazel’s grin softened her earlier annoyance. “You’re such a baby,” she teased softly before enveloping me in a warm hug. Her presence was reassuring, and I found solace in her embrace.
She pulled away slightly and and stared at me reassuringly, “I couldn’t see Eleanor at the hospital because Anne wouldn’t allow it, but I can assure you she’s going to be fine.”
Regret gnawed at me as I realized I should have confided in Hazel yesterday instead of ending up in that situation. “Everything is going to be fine now that you’re here,” I murmured, genuinely grateful for her presence.