Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 284

Amelia’s fingers curled ever so slightly, almost missing her cue in the little performance.

Robert’s acting—honestly, the man could go straight to Broadway with skills like that.

A deep rumble of thunder rolled overhead as Amelia slowly drew her hand back, lips pressed together. “...Just give me a little more time.”

Robert Rubin’s mouth twitched into a warm smile. “Of course. I’ll wait for you.”

Outside, the car pulled away from the parking lot.

Low, heavy clouds pressed down on the world, crowding together in thick, suffocating layers. The air felt starved of oxygen, as if every breath might be your last.

Daniel stood behind his black SUV, a bitter, metallic taste rising in his throat. Each inhale tugged on some invisible thread, slicing at his nasal passages until it hurt to breathe, leaving his breaths jagged and raw.

Suddenly, a jagged bolt of lightning slashed across the sky, like a serpent tearing a hole in the darkness. Thunder crashed, low and violent, rolling overhead as if it meant to crush his skull.

A fat raindrop smacked the corner of Daniel’s eye, stinging like a tear.

He brushed it away, only for a second, then a third drop to follow.

Before long, the storm swallowed him, wind and rain blurring the world into a haze of chaos and gloom.

...

Finley had only planned to swing by the club for a quick check-in. The manager mentioned Daniel was there, so he wandered down to the private lounge. The moment he pushed open the door, he nearly had a heart attack.

The lights were off, and Daniel looked like a mess—hair mussed, shirt wrinkled, like he’d been tossed in a river and then left to dry. He was sprawled on the couch, gaunt and pale as a ghost.

If he’d been asleep, maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad. But no—Daniel’s eyes were wide open, staring blankly at the ceiling, the life almost drained from him.

Finley was instantly reminded of those horror movies he’d watched as a kid, the ones where the ghost sucked out all your energy, leaving you a shell.

He didn’t even dare step further into the room. Instead, he hurried to flip every light switch he could find.

“Daniel?”

Daniel’s eyes were open, but it was as if his ears didn’t work.

Finley crept closer, voice gentle. “...Daniel. What’s going on with you?”

At last, Daniel moved. His voice was hoarse beyond recognition. “Grab me a drink. Something strong.”

“She could yell at me, hit me, whatever she wants,” Daniel murmured, almost to himself. “But why did it have to be like this...?”

Finley’s ears perked up at the scent of gossip, and he immediately sat up straighter. “Hold on. Tell me everything.”

Later, Charles got off work and, thanks to a call from Finley, made his way to the club.

He walked into the lounge to find Finley munching on sunflower seeds, the shells pile up into a little mountain—he’d clearly been at it for a while.

The moment Charles entered, Finley couldn’t wait to spill. “Dude, massive news—Daniel just got cheated on!”

He sounded way more gleeful than sympathetic.

Daniel was so drained he didn’t even have the energy to kick him.

Charles looked over, expression unreadable. “Go on. I’m listening.”

Daniel couldn’t help thinking he must’ve used up all his good luck in a past life to wind up with friends like these.

Finley shoved a handful of sunflower seeds at Charles and, his voice full of drama, launched into a detailed retelling of the whole saga—with a few creative embellishments, of course.