I double-check the address on my phone to make sure I’m standing in front of the right apartment and remind myself to breath. I raise my hand, lower it, raise it again, and finally tap on the door before I lose the courage.

“Margo! You need to get your crazy ass out of here.”

My stomach goes hard at the sound of his voice. This is the right place. He’s in there. I should turn around and leave. I gulp down my breaths, like I’m trying to keep quiet so he doesn’t hear me.

“But you don’t understand,” another voice yells. A woman’s voice. Any angry woman’s voice.

A knife stabs through my heart.

“I understand everything,” he fires back.

I’m trying to process what’s going on when the door flies open. I jump as Zeth appears in front of me, standing in the doorway, and a skinny blonde comes stumbling out. She stops in the hallway with a vicious look in her eyes.

I grip my luggage and start my journey of getting the hell out of there. I can hear Zeth behind me, but I ignore him while picking up my pace. I don’t make it far before he grabs my arm to stop me. I refuse to look at him. I can’t. It’ll break my heart all over again. I lose that option when he turns me around to face him.

“What are you doing here?” he asks.

I debate whether to lie to him. “I live here.”

He hesitates before speaking. “In California?”

“Yes,” I stutter.

He rubs his forehead. “What? How?”

I don’t want to explain myself to him. I want to get out of here. “I changed my plans.”

The past few months, I was dying to call him and tell him the news. I wanted him to know I was making a new plan for us, but I stopped myself every time I grabbed the phone. If he told me it didn’t matter to him, I knew I’d back out. I had to do this for myself, not for Zeth, for me. Even if he didn’t want me, I had to make my own choices and live how I wanted.

“So, no Columbia?”

“No Columbia.” I want to smack the grin off his face. “Now, you can go back to your girlfriend, and I’ll get out of your way.”

“What the fuck are you talking about? I don’t have a damn girlfriend.”

“The girl you were just arguing with in your apartment. The one standing only a few feet away from us with tears running down her cheeks. Looks like you’re still a manwhore.”

I shake my head, trying to fight back tears. I’m so incredibly stupid. I knew there was a chance that this would happen. Kelton has repeatedly told me Zeth wasn’t seeing anyone, but I guess he’s good at hiding things. Or he’s still having one-night stands.

Yeah, that’s probably it.

Thank God, I had a backup plan, in case Zeth didn’t want to get back together. I’ve been accepted into a new school, and I can meet new people.

“That is not my girlfriend,” he says, looking like I gave him the biggest insult of his life.

I eye him skeptically, but can’t help my gaze from roaming over him. He looks good. Damnit. Why couldn’t he have gained three hundreds pounds and let himself go?

My knees are weak, begging me not to walk away from him. I shouldn’t want to jump his bones right now. My breathing stilts, and I shake my head. Use your self-control, Addison!

I wave my hand in the air like I don’t care. “Okay, your one-night stand … whatever.”

He laughs and turns around to look at the girl. “Margo, she thinks I’m desperate enough to sleep with you.”

The girl snorts, leaning against the wall. She’s wearing a short skirt and a halter-top and looks like she just got home from the club, even though it’s the afternoon. She must’ve stayed with him last night.

“Yeah fucking right,” she says in a hostile tone. “I can’t stand this asshole. I’d rather have my vagina cut out than be with him.”

I cringe, suddenly feeling my vagina ache at her reference.

“She’s Rose’s mom,” he explains.

“And I want to see my goddamn child,” she screams.

“Shut your fucking mouth, Margo,” Zeth yells.

A few apartment doors open, and his neighbors look out to eavesdrop on the commotion. They notice Zeth’s tempered face and slam their doors shut.

“Your ass can go sober up and then you might be able to see her,” he goes on. “Until then, get the fuck out of here. I’ll tell Kelton you’re looking for him.”

She pushes herself off the wall. Her ratty hair is pulled into a ponytail. She looks at me before shoving her way around Zeth. “I’d stay away from this jackass. He likes to keep mothers away from their children.”

“Deadbeat mothers need to stay away from their children,” Zeth corrects.

“Screw you!” Her attention goes back to me. “You look like a sweet girl. I wouldn’t give him the time of day. Do you know his criminal background? Do you know that he uses girls and then throws them to the side like they’re nothing? He’s done it to plenty of my friends.”

“Shut the fuck up, Margo. Unlike you and your friends, she’s not easy and willing to give it up to a guy who says fucking hi to them.”

Margo slides between us, making sure she bumps into Zeth’s side, and disappears down the stairs.

“So, no Columbia, huh?” Zeth asks again, a smile forming on his lips. I want to run my tongue across them.

“No Columbia.”

“Doesn’t that mess with your plan?”

“Eh, I decided to do a re-route, change things up. The only plan I want now is one that includes you.”

He licks his lips as his fingers curl around my waist. Heat rips through me when he brings my lips to his.

“God, I need to fuck you,” he says, against them.

“I was hoping you’d say that,” I whisper.

He grabs my bag and throws it through his front door. I press against him when he picks me up and grips my ass before dragging me into his apartment. He pins me against the wall and doesn’t hesitate before rocking his body against mine. I can already feel his erection through my dress.

I push my tongue in his mouth. I’ve missed the taste of him.

He kisses me back urgently. “I’ve missed you so fucking much.” His hips buck forward. “You have no idea.”

“Oh, yes I do,” I say around a gasp. “Tell me you’re mine.” It’s time for some role reversing. I need to hear him confess his feelings before I let him screw me.

“I’m fucking yours, Addison Andrews. I’ve been yours since you walked into my bedroom that first night. And you’re mine. I love you.”

His words set me aflame.

“I love you, too.” I arch my hips forward, wanting to feel more of him.

He uses his knee to nudge my legs apart, and my pussy spasms when I feel his hand dip underneath my dress. My body trembles when he thrusts two fingers in me, and I pulsate around them. I tingle, and every muscle in my body tightens as sensations roll over me.

God, I missed everything about him.

“Fuck, I forgot how much you love it when I play with your tight little pussy,” he whispers in my ear, hitching my leg around his thigh. “And as much as I want to taste every damn inch of you, I have to feel you first. I have to take you.”

“Take what’s yours.”

His fingers speed up, driving me crazy. My panties get torn down my legs and thrown across the room. He wastes no time before pushing his cock inside me.

He powerfully drives in and out of my heat, nuzzling his face in my neck, and grips my hips so tight I can’t move.

He holds me in place while I take in the feel of his perfect cock.

I’ve missed him being inside me.

I’ve dreamed about this for months.

I’ve touched myself remembering how good he felt.

Our reunion is better than I imagined.