Perfect Addiction

ONE

Hit.

I was back in the living room of my apartment. It was pitch black; the only thing pelting light into the place was a small crack in the doorway to my sister's room. I shrugged off my coat and threw my keys into the ceramic bowl I knew was sitting somewhere on the shoe cabinet beside the door, the clink of keys and coins rattling softly in the dark.

Hit.

"Beth?" I called out, but my voice was drowned out by the sound of thunder crashing through the sky. "Beth, you busy?"

Hit.

Ever since my sister and I moved into this apartment, we had fallen into a solid routine. I'd come home from my evening shift at the gym and Beth would be in her room, buzzing with caffeine from her third latte of the day as she writes up her latest assignment. Sometimes, if my boyfriend, Jax, gets off from training early, I'd find him perched on my bed, freshly showered and waiting for me with open arms.

That was the way it was supposed to be.

Hit.

I hadn't anticipated getting off work early today, but one of my students had been a no-show and Julian told me I could leave. So I did. Truthfully, I was grateful for class being cancelled since I was more than ready to have an early kickoff to the weekend. I wondered if Beth was up for it too. We could order takeout and put on Gilmore Girls like we always do.

Hit.

I approached my sister's door, fist reaching up, ready to knock.

A soft moan drifts through the crack of the doorway, coupled with bed creaking noises.

My hand dropped to my side, suddenly feeling embarrassed. Beth never told me she was having a guy over tonight. She never has anyone over, really, so this was new for me. I wished she'd text me first so I could give her some privacy; she knew I'd be more than happy to give it to her. I'd usually shoot her something quick when Jax is over and we desperately need some alone time. I decided to let it slide for now. Maybe she'd tell me all about her mystery man later.

I began to inch away from the door.

But then . . . I heard it.

"Oh, Jax," Beth moaned.

Shock paralyzed my body, forcing me to stumble back until my back collided against the wall.

HIT.

The squeaking immediately came to a halt. There were sounds of frantic shuffling and clothes being pulled on, and then the door being flung wide open.

Jax was out first. Followed by Beth. Both looking shocked as hell.

Both looking guilty as hell.

I could feel the floor beneath me folding onto itself into one huge, black sinkhole.

HIT. HIT. HIT.

Jax's breathing was heavy and unsettled as he looked at me. I could feel my heart being cleaved wide open when his gaze locked with mine.

"Princess," he said softly and reached a hand out toward me. I recoiled from him, shaking my head. "Princess, wait—"

"How long?" I hurled out the first question that I could string together in my mind. I was surprised I was able to form words at all.

Jax's mouth hung open, no words falling out. Beth flinched at my sharpness, and in that moment, I felt bad for her, the shame unfurling across her face making me falter. But then my field of vision expanded and I saw the full, raw picture in front of me—Jax in nothing but a flimsy blanket to cover himself. Beth wearing a shirt that I recognize not to be hers.