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~song dedication~ I Know What You Did Last Summer 

by Camila Cabello & Shawn Mendes 

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I reflected his body language and became frigid. 

"Easton what are you talking about?" 

He started to tremble, and his face meet his palms.

"Stop with the charade, "He lifted his head and his eyes were lingering in the general area, "Just answer the damn question, who gave you that?" He barked. I flinched and felt that freedom of vulnerability slip away between us, especially when I turned around and finally saw the mark Castle had left behind. My fingers tenderly grazed the skin just below the collarbone, where the hickey was located. 

My eyes flickered up at the mirror and I met Easton's glare. His jaw was locked, and his face was flushed red. His breaths where heaving in and out of his nose. I lowered my chin in embarrassment and strapped my arms around my body and, tried to forget the burning hole in my stomach. 

He pressed his forehead into his forearm, which was against the door frame. He lifted his head and pivoted towards me, opening his mouth to say something. He bit his knuckle to bite back the words. 

"Easton, you know I love you." His feet shuffled towards the door to leave but then he lingered at the threshold. 

"Victoria-don't say it if you don't mean it."

I slide of the counter to  stop him from walking away, but my leg buckled from the ache my sprained ankle. I wanted to call him back to me, and tell him what pain he caused me all this time and why it's hypocritical for him to say that.  But if he wanted to walk away from me, he's free to do so. 

Honestly the void he'd leave behind would hurt but, he left. And he could come back, just like he's done before. So was I in dire need? 

If he needs to wander to know where home is, I'll respect that but I won't wait the same way I have before. 

I eventually crawled my way to the couch to seek refuge. Passing the time by getting sicker by the minuets, since my house was always freezing and I was still soaked from the shower. 

My liquor cabinet is always there for me, so when I opened it of course. Reached up for a champagne flute and noticed the tequila(that I've been saving for the next "girls night") was closer to the front and had been opened. There also was a shots glass with the print of a cactus, lying face down in my sink. 

London would have given me the heads up since she knew I was saving it. Which means it must have been Easton. But who the hell gets into someone's else liquor cabinet, unless he is so twisted to think what's mine is still his. 

Which reminds me,  I don't give a damn what he thinks. 

I grabbed my champagne bottle out of the fridge and the box of  pre-made brownies on my counter and limped towards my ash white sofa that sat center of my living room. I tipped my bottle against the side of the glass, eager to get rid of this headache. 

There was nothing in the world I could really do, but celebrate. Although, I'm losing a job opportunity and I'm feeling sick, I'm really celebrating because of what happened this morning. Easton got exactly what he deserved. 

You can't just give up on someone, leave them hanging on for years, and then be irritated when they attempt to move on, because you're suddenly interested again. 

How adorable would it be if he though I was even fretting for a moment on what happened this morning. 

The tiny bubbles fizzled out of the bottle and into the flute. I toasted to myself. My lips parted to sip from my glass, I heard a distant knock sounding at the front door. 

For a moment she was reluctant on answering the door. She was content on her couch, and didn't want to deal with anyone else today. Besides if they needed her they could just leave her a messag-

Oh, right.

Once again, another knock.  

I sighed and rose from of my couch. Adjusting my navy blue fuzzy bath robe, before I started the journey to the door. 

Nevertheless my ankle was twisted and hopping to the door took a minuet. 

Finally arriving within 3 feet of the entrance, hand ready to open the door; the nob twisted and a black glossy dress shoe peeked through the door. 

My hand drew back instantly and I stepped back appalled. 

The moment they peeked their head through the door and took note of me, was the moment where awkwardness was welcomed into the scene. 

I stood their eyes-wide and lips pursed, because their he stood. 

And their I stood.. in my bath robe. 

"Um-Hi." I blushed folding my arms close to my body. 

He briefly analyzed my attire and suppressed a side smile. 

"Sorry to intruded." He smuggled himself into the apartment and shut the door. 

"Uh- it's fine." I managed to stutter out. 

I opened my mouth and pointed to the back of the apartment. 

"Could you-uh-give me a moment-to umm.." 

He gave a hesitant response, nodding his head. "Uh-yeah-yes." He swept his suit jacket back and put his hands in his pockets. Pulling over a different persona from the previous ones I've seen. 

I twisted on my good foot and dragged my bad foot behind me. 

"Would you like some help?"

"No-no," I exclaimed under the weight of the situation, "I mean...I'm good thank you." I state more professionally. 

My palms were clammy and I could almost feel the after effects of that embarrassing moment creeping in, like the rosy color flushed on my cheeks. 

My heart beat and temperature rose like a fever dream as I rushed to throw on a mismatch pair of underwear and a pair of leggings and a dug out a pale blue sweater to warm myself. I didn't bother throwing on actual clothes because I assumed the interaction would be short, or at least that's what I was praying it will be.  

Honestly that interaction made me want to crawl into my bath tub and drown myself, even though he probably felt the same way. 

Either way nothing could prevent me from having to face him, so I'd take it on the chin, pull down the handle and move across the wood floor and be a good "hostess." 

"Is there anything I can get for you?" I asked politely.

Castle was resting his elbow on top of the shelf of the hearth gazing down at a picture, his other hand on his abdomen. His front leg was extended as his body as he was angled towards the fire place. His head rotated upon me entering. He declined and added,

"I won't be here for long, since I'm only here to give this to you."  He reached the back pocket of his dark black suit. 

"Where did you find it?!" 

"I believe you left in the booth at the club." He said suppressing yet again a smile, as he refers back to that night. 

I shyly smiled and ignored the remind, taking the phone he was returning to me. 

"Thank you."

"Yeah-your welcome." 

 For a moment we held each others gazes...

He cleared his throat and looked down at the ground rubbing the back of his neck. 

"I also came to see what was up because, we hadn't heard from you all morning." He says pressing on a more professional topic. 

"I didn't have my phone on me, "I laugh airily.

"And I twisted my ankle so- I -uh- "I sneezed and sniveled, "-kind of called it a day." 

Castle eyebrows furrowed in concern and he dipped his gaze down on me sympathetically. "You're also sick?" 

"Yeah." I rubbed my already red nose, and folded my arms, rubbing my hand down arm to keep warm. "-but you probably don't care."  I broke the gaze feeling suddenly defensive. We fell silent

He scoffed. "I have free time, let me take care of you." He pushed his hands down into his pockets and smiled lifted his head smiling at me.

I wanted to say that there was no need, but I doubt he would take no for an answer, and it would only make it more awkward if I turned him away. Although I would still be nervous to have him around, especially since our sexual tension was still lingering like a sweet scent.

The edges of my lips turned up and I rolled my eyes teasingly. "Fine."

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Don't throw tomato's at me XD

on second thought...

I'm actually sorry that this chapter took so long to update, but thank you for being so patient with me. I hope you guys enjoy, and I try to update the next chapter as soon as possible. 

Love you all, 

                            VIOLETTEA<3

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