The Internet Told Him to Leave Me, but He’s Still Holding Me Chapter 03

The Internet Told Him to Leave Me, but He’s Still Holding Me Chapter 03

I curled up on the couch and went back to reading the thread.

[My girlfriend’s the same. Every day after work, she wants me to hold her. Come on, I’ve been working all day. I don’t have the energy to baby her.]

[Same. Guys are wiped after work, and then we’re supposed to play therapist for our girlfriends. Mess it up, and bam—we’re on the couch.]

[My ex was always checking up on me. I’d be mid-meeting, phone blowing up. Nearly got me fired.]

The more I read, the more my stomach dropped.

I’d done every single one of those things.

Was I about to become the “crazy ex” too?

Just then, Damon called.

“Baby, I’ve got a business dinner this afternoon. My client’s assistant is a woman, so I wanted to let you know.”

I froze for a second. Then I remembered all those comments.

“You don’t have to.”

I forced a smile.

“You don’t need to tell me stuff like that anymore.”

Silence filled the line.

If he didn’t have to check in with me anymore, he’d probably be relieved.

“Okay,” he finally said. “I’ve got to get back to work.”

His tone was unreadable. He must’ve been pleased.

I still had three hours before my appointment at The Gilded Nail.

To kill time, I sat by the front door opening the stack of packages that had arrived.

Then the keypad beeped and the front door swung open.

Damon stepped inside and immediately locked eyes with me, surrounded by a mountain of boxes.

I blinked. “Why are you back?”

His expression was impossible to read.

Without a word, he wrapped an arm around my waist and lifted me clean off the floor.

My eyes widened.

“Damon! What’s gotten into you?”

Instead of letting go, he kissed me. Hard.

He didn’t give me a chance to protest, stealing every breath until my mind went completely blank.

When he finally pulled away, I sagged against him, breathing hard.

“What was that for…?”

He brushed the loose strands of hair away from my face with cool fingertips.

“You kept looking at me with those puppy eyes.”

A faint smile tugged at his lips.

“I figured you wanted a kiss.”

Actually, my eyes were just dry from staring too long. But I didn’t argue.

The people in the comments had said arguing back all the time only pissed off your boyfriend.

Damon held me for a long time.

“Nerissa.” His voice was low. “Want to… now?”

I blinked, then shook my head. “No.”

His breath caught for just a second. He didn’t say another word.

He still had to leave for the business dinner.

Even after grabbing his keys, he lingered by the door.

“I’m heading out.”

“Okay, bye.”

“I’ll be home before eight.”

“Alright.”

He looked back at me with every few steps before finally walking out.

The door clicked shut.

My chest tightened.

Normally, whenever he left the house, I’d hug him forever and steal one last kiss before letting him go.

Now I wasn’t doing any of that.

Maybe he wouldn’t feel so suffocated anymore.