Chapter Fifteen
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
MARIE
This was a mistake. I shouldn’t have come here.
After our fight, I was so upset with Garrett that I could hardly look at him, let alone talk to him. He hurt me, and I still don’t think he realizes how much. I managed to go three weeks without seeing him until he started showing back up at the library, but I just kept ignoring him. Then I overheard his conversation with Mason, and something in me snapped.
When I heard that Garrett was going out with his friend, I couldn’t help myself. It wasn’t fair that he could just move on as if our fight meant nothing…as if I meant nothing. If he could go out and have a good time, then I could too! I called up Maggie, knowing she’d be up for a night out. I’d known there was a chance he’d be at Carson’s , because it’s not like this town is crawling with bars, but I’d hoped he’d end up somewhere else so I could just enjoy my night out in relative peace.
I should’ve just stayed home and not risked it.
As he stares at me, slack jawed, a pretty brunette comes up beside him and grabs his arm, pulling him back to the table Mason is sitting at with a blonde.
Fuck, this was what I was afraid of. I remembered all the stories I’d heard about Garrett and Mason’s antics when they were in high school, especially the stories about all the girls they’d pursued. Looks like I was right to worry. It seems the guys are really revisiting their glory days, just like Mason said they would back in the library.
Part of me wants to turn around and leave, but Garrett’s seen me. It’ll be obvious that I’m running away because of him, and that would be so humiliating. Still, I don’t know if I can stay and watch him flirt with other women. I’m frozen in place, uncertain whether I should move forward or back.
Maggie slips her arm through mine, and smiles up at me.
“Come on, let’s get a drink,” she says, winking.
Relief and gratitude wash through me at her willingness to step up and take charge right now.
“All right.”
She gives my arm a squeeze and leads me through the crowd toward the bar. I do my best to ignore Garrett, but his eyes follow me from across the room.
When we reach the bar, Maggie waves the bartender over.
“Can we get a vodka soda, and… what do you want, Marie?”
“Oh, um, just a ginger ale.”
She raises her brows in surprise. “You sure? It’s on me.”
Truth be told, I’d love a good strong drink, but I don’t think my stomach can handle it. Just thinking about liquor has it twisting and the nausea I’ve been experiencing the last couple days bubbling back up.
I wince, but then smile and nod. “I’m sure, really.”
Maggie shrugs. “All righty, one ginger ale it is.”
The bartender brings out drinks and Maggie hands me mine.
“Cheers,” I say, clinking my glass with hers.
She gives me a concerned look. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I reply. “I’ve just had a bit of a stomach bug the last few days, so drinking probably isn’t a good idea.”
“That’s not what I meant.” She glances behind me, right at Garrett. It’s no secret my feelings for him, but I didn’t know it was so obvious. “If you want, we can dip out after this drink. It won’t be weird that way.”
I chuckle and give her an appreciative hand pat. “It’s okay. We can stay here. I just want to relax and have some fun.”
“We can do that, no problem,” Maggie assures me.
We sip our drinks and chat and laugh, and I pretend I don’t feel Garrett’s gaze boring into me. Maggie has a few more vodka sodas and I have another ginger ale before she grabs my hand and tugs me off my stool.
“Let’s dance!” she exclaims.
She drags me out to the crowded dance floor. She twirls me and I laugh, and as we dance, my stress and anxiety melts away. This is what I’ve needed. To just let loose and not think about anything, or anyone. Garrett’s still there—I can sense him even if I do my best not to look in his direction—but I’m not letting his presence and those girls he’s with keep me from enjoying myself.
A tall man in jeans and a button up black shirt slips through the crowd toward me. He’s not bad-looking, with dark hair and brown eyes and he seems decently in shape. When he reaches me, he looks me up and down with an appreciative smile.
“Hey, beautiful,” he says loud enough that I can hear him over the music. “Wanna dance?”
I’m not super interested, but maybe this is what I need. Attention from other men to help me finally get over my obsession with Garrett.
“Okay,” I answer, taking his hand.
The guy immediately moves closer and puts his hands on my waist. Okay… that’s all right, I guess. We start to dance, but the music suddenly changes into something slower. Before I can make an excuse to step away, he pulls me closer so I’m pressed tight against him.
“Um, I think I should find my friend…”
“Don’t worry, baby,” he murmurs with a hungry grin. “I’ll take care of you.”
His breath, hot on my neck, smells sharply of alcohol. It makes my stomach churn. Ew… this guy’s getting real creepy, real fast.
“That’s okay,” I say, pushing against his chest. “I don’t need to be taken care of.”
His grip on me moves lower toward my ass.
“I like a girl who plays hard to get.”
I push harder and scowl up at him. “Hey, I’m not kidding, and I’m not playing hard to get. I don’t want to dance with you anymore. Let me go.”
“Just relax, baby, and enjoy the ride…”
“I said no!”
Suddenly, a hand reaches past me and shoves the guy away.
“She said no.”
Garrett’s deep voice sends a shiver down my spine. He brings his other arm around my waist and pulls me back against him. I instantly feel more at ease pressed against his body. I’m safe now, and don’t have to worry anymore.
The guy looks pissed, but he turns his gaze up and gets a good look at Garrett
“Whatever,” he grumbles before turning and skulking away, disappearing back into the crowd.
Turning, I tilt my head back and meet Garrett’s eyes. His expression is fierce, but it immediately softens when he looks down at me.
“You okay?” he asks.
I gulp, caught off guard by being so close to him so suddenly. “Um…I am. Thanks.”
He takes my hand and pulls me close. “Wanna dance with me instead?”
My heart is racing and I hesitate, reminding myself that I’m still angry with him. He said some really hurtful things…yet the heat from his body is wrapping around me, and his bright green gaze is unwavering as he stares down at me. He has dark stubble along his jaw and his hair is a little wild, which really works for him. Damn it…why does he have to be so damn gorgeous?
“Sure,” I murmur as he pulls me even closer.
Slipping my arms around his neck, we start to sway to the music. I can’t lie… I’m confused. My feelings for Garrett are a jumbled mess, and I don’t know what it means that he stepped in and saved me from that asshole. Was he just being a good friend? A good brother ?
Or did he do it because he cares more about me than that? Did he not like seeing another man touching me?
I don’t know, but right this second, I don’t think I care. All that matters is that he’s holding me, chasing off the bad guys, and making me feel cared for and safe.
Letting out a soft breath, I rest my head against his chest. Will he push me away?
He doesn’t. In fact, he drops his chin onto the top of my head. The tension between us is thick, but neither of us address it. In fact, we don’t say anything as we continue to dance.
When the song comes to an end and a more energetic one starts playing, Garrett and I stop. I don’t want to walk away from him, but I don’t know how to be around him anymore. My heart hurts remembering how he declared that our night together was a mistake when it meant so much to me. However, it also can’t seem to let him go.
“Why don’t I take you home?” he asks.
I frown, surprised by the offer. “What about Mason and… those girls? Won’t they be upset if you ditch them?”
He chuckles softly and shakes his head. “No, they won’t be. I was going to leave anyway before you walked in. Then I couldn’t make myself go.”
My heart races at that, but I try not to get ahead of myself and read too much into his words.
“Oh? What if I’m not ready to leave?”
He arches a brow. “You want to stay?”
I nibble my bottom lip before admitting, “No, I don’t. I want to go home.”
“Then I’ll take you.”
I put a hand on his chest. “I need to let Maggie know.”
He nods. “All right.”
Turning away from him, I search the dancefloor and spot Maggie. She’s dancing with a cut blonde guy who seems entranced by her. I cross over to them, and Garrett follows close behind me. My chest flutters at his apparent protectiveness.
When I reach Maggie, I pat her on the shoulder to get her attention. She turns her head to me, blinking as if she’s coming out of a daze.
“Marie! You okay?”
I lean in so I can speak directly into her ear. “I’m going to head out. Are you good?”
She gives me a thumbs up as the blonde guy hugs her tighter, as if he’s afraid I’m going to steal her away.
“I’m good,” she assures me. “You go ahead. I can see you’ve got an escort to make sure you get home safe.”
She gazes pointedly over my shoulder, and I steal a glance back at Garrett. He’s looking around the dance floor, like he’s keeping an eye out for potential threats. It’d be funny if I hadn’t just dealt with that awful creep.
I focus back on Maggie. “Yeah, he’s going to walk me home. Text me when you get home later, okay?”
“I will, I promise.”
Usually, I wouldn’t feel good about leaving a friend alone in a bar, but Maggie is more than capable of taking care of herself. Carson’s is one of her favorite haunts in town and she comes here by herself all the time. The owner knows her so well, he’s always looking out for her.
Turning back to Garrett, I say, “Do you need to let Mason know?”
“No, we’re good.”
“Okay, then let’s get out of here.”
Garrett places his hand on my lower back and directs me away from the dance floor and toward the bar’s front door. His palm feels hot, even through my clothes, and heat pools deep in my belly. No matter how confused my head and heart might be, my body knows exactly what it wants. It wants Garrett. The other man’s touch repelled me, but Garetts’ sets me on fire. I don’t know if I’ll ever have that with anyone else, and that possibility terrifies me.
What if he’s ruined me for other men? What if I can never move on from him, even in the face of his rejection?
My heart races and I move more quickly to get to the door, suddenly needing air as the possibility of a life without Garrett—without anyone—crushes my chest and makes it difficult to breathe.