Chapter 99 Echoes of Him
DAVE WILTON’S POV
My erection weakened immediately.
Sha had said his name while I was inside her.
While her body was still curled around mine, chasing the same release I was trying to give her.
I pulled out and sat back on my heels, breathing hard.
Within seconds, the heat between us became cold.
“You mentioned his name,” I said, even my own voice sounded foreign to my ears.
“You said his name while I was fucking you.”
Joan’s face went pale. She reached for me but I grabbed my boxers from the floor.
“Dave, wait… I wasn’t… I didn’t mean…” she stuttered.
“Didn’t mean what?” I laughed dryly.
“You’ve been distracted for days, and now this? While I’m trying to give you everything?”
I stood up, pulling my shirt on with shaky movements.
“You are using me to get over him, Joan. That’s what this is. I’m just a safe place to land while you keep one foot in the past… and the thing is, I’ve been patient with you. I’ve given you space. And you still can’t stop thinking about him long enough to be here with me.”
She sat up, clutching her dress to her chest, her eyes shining with regret I didn’t want to see.
“That’s not fair,” she whispered.
“No,” I said, my voice cracking.
“What’s not fair to me is falling in love with someone who is still madly in love with her ex,” I added.
The words hung between us.
Then I grabbed my keys from the table.
“Have a great day, Joan,” I said and walked out before she could answer, the door clicking shut behind me.
As I walked to my car, my legs were shaky, but I dragged them forward nonetheless.
JOAN COLE’S POV
The silence that followed Dave's departure made my stomach turn.
I sat on the couch with my head buried in my palms as I stamped my feet on the ground.
That was a very stupid thing to do.
Why do I have to say his name while we were making love?
I would be angry if I were in his shoes too.
At that moment, I didn’t know what to do.
There was no point following him.
I picked up my phone and dialed Lena’s number.
She picked on the second ring.
“I’m just packing my stuff. I will be home soon,” she said before I could say anything.
“I fucked up, Lena,” I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Oh my… what happened?” she asked, her voice filled with concern.
“I… I did a very terrible thing,” I replied, my voice cracking.
“I will be on my way now.”
With that, I ended the call and buried my head back in my hands.
DAVE WILTON’S POV
I pushed the door to the Wilton apartment open, my hair a mess and my eyes burning from the sting of humiliation that refused to fade.
Jane was walking out of the kitchen, scrolling through her phone with a mug of tea in her hand. She looked up, startled, then immediately concerned when she saw my face.
“Dave? What the hell happened? You look a mess.”
I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, dragging a hand down my face.
“I’ve been a fool.”
“What?” Jane blinked.
“Joan,” my voice cracked and I hated how weak I sounded.
“We were in bed, I was inside her… everything was good and then she moaned her ex’s name. While I was fucking her, Jane, she said Alex.”
The words felt irritating to my ears.
“Damn!” Jane muttered, setting her mug down slowly.
I started pacing, unable to stand still. The anger, the hurt, and the embarrassment started pouring out now that I had someone to vent to.
“I’ve given her everything. My time and patience,” I said, counting with my fingers.
“I asked her to move in with me, she said she needed time and then while I was making love with her, she was thinking about her ex. The same ex who couldn’t fight for her.”
Jane watched me carefully, letting me pour out my mind.
“I feel like a complete idiot,” I continued, my voice rising.
“It’s like I’ve been the safe, boring rebound guy this whole time. The one who buys her nice things, listens, and never pushes too hard while she’s still carrying the man who broke her in her heart. You know what’s worse?”
“She didn’t even try to deny it properly.”
I stopped pacing and sank down onto the armchair across from her, then placed my elbows on my knees and head in my hands.
“I love her, Jane. I really do. But how the hell am I supposed to continue like this? How am I supposed to keep giving when every time I touch her, a part of her is still somewhere else?”
Jane was quiet for a moment, then she looked at me and spoke gently.
“Dave… that sucks. That really, really sucks. But you can’t pretend it’s not happening. You have to talk to her about it. Not in the heat of the moment, but when you both are calm. Tell her exactly how it made you feel.”
“I already did,” I laughed bitterly.
“I told her she was using me.”
“Ouch,” Jane winced.
“Yeah,” I rubbed my eyes.
“I’m crashing out. Aren’t I?”
“A little,” she admitted with a small smile.
“But you are allowed to.”
I nodded, my throat tightening.
The worst part wasn’t even the name she mentioned, it was the realization that no matter how much I gave Joan, I might never be enough to erase Alex from her mind.
And I didn’t know how much longer I could keep pretending that was okay.
Jane stood up and came over, squeezing my shoulder.
“You are not the rebound guy,” she said quietly.
“You are the guy who shows up. But she has to show up too. For real.”
I didn’t answer.
I just sat there, the image of Joan’s face when she realized what she had said showing up in my head.
That was when my phone vibrated on the table.
It was a text from Joan, and that text sent a chill down my spine.