Chapter 18
Bailey
I debate running away once again.
I’ve done it before, and I’m sure I could do it again. It’s a pain in the ass, but I could manage. I always do. The only thing tying me here is my business. Roasted Bean is my pride and joy, but I could sell it. I’d be sad to let it go, but it would be okay.
I’d miss Sutton, I think. She’s one of the first real friends I’ve ever had and not having her around might be disappointing.
Lily too, I guess. But she’s away at college and who knows what she’ll be doing once she graduates. Maybe she won’t even come back here. I’m not exactly sure what degree she’s settled on because last she said she’s been bouncing around majors all the way from philosophy to business.
I don’t think she knows exactly what she’s going to do and I don’t blame her. She’s young and has plenty of time to figure it out.
I, on the other hand, have spent the entire thirty-one years of my life just trying to survive, escaping when I felt trapped or unsafe.
And right now, that feeling is starting to appear again, but not because I feel like Wes is going to hurt me.
I’m afraid I’m in over my head and while we haven’t had the most peaceful time living next to each other, I’ve managed to do my best to avoid him.
Until now.
I watch him drive away, his words are still replaying in my mind. Five minutes later, once I’ve finally managed to push them from my thoughts, my phone signals a text, and the words on my screen almost make me drop the device.
Wes: Come to my house when you’re done. Don’t even try to hide in your room. It’ll only make things worse for you.
That smug bastard.
I want to scream, but someone pulls up to the window to order. I know it won’t look great if they see me losing my shit in here just because my neighbor is determined to send me spiraling.
After only a couple more hours, I’m closing up and my phone goes off again. I glare at it like it’s a bomb about to detonate. I don’t want to see what could be waiting on there for me because lately, it hasn’t been great.
Threats I want to challenge and demands I’m tempted to follow. That is not what I should be feeling. None of what’s been happening should have my mind so scrambled. Somehow, my life has turned into some weird alternate reality where Wes is trying to get into my pants, and I kind of want to let him.
I dare a glance at my phone, and see that it appears to be safe because it’s a text from Lily in the group chat. She’s not addressing me specifically, but I still read the message. If you don’t want it read by everyone, you don’t put it in the group chat.
Lily: Sutton! How’s the honeymoon going? Hope you’re having a good time *winking emoji*
Sutton: We are, actually. It’s nice to be up in the mountains relaxing.
Lily: I bet you are relaxing…relaxing on your new husband’s pecker.
Sutton: Do not call it a pecker. I’m leaving.
Sutton has left the chat.
Lily has added Sutton to the chat.
Lily: Bailey, where are you? Back me up.
Bailey: I’m not backing up you using the word “pecker.”
Lily: Is it because you haven’t gotten to relax on a certain neighbor’s pecker? *side eye emoji*
Bailey: Now I’m leaving.
Bailey has left the chat.
Lily has added Bailey to the chat.
Lily: You bitches don’t get to leave me that easily, now someone better tell me something interesting. I’m bored out of my mind here.
Sutton: You first! Have you heard from Parker or anything to do with his pecker recently?
Lily: That was just rude.
Lily has left the chat.
Bailey: Should we even add her back?
Sutton: Let her sweat it out for a minute.
Bailey: She’s relentless.
Sutton: No kidding. I love her, but she’s a lot. Be thankful you weren’t around for the jelly bean story.
Bailey: …I don’t even want to know.
Sutton: No, you really don’t.
Sutton: Think enough time has passed?
Bailey: Yeah, probably.
Sutton has added Lily to the chat.
Lily: Took you bitches long enough! I know you missed me.
Lily: Oh! I have to tell you about what I saw today. It has to do with a mime–
I lock my phone and put it in my pocket, knowing I’ll end up standing here for the rest of the day reading about the rabbit hole Lily is about to go down. She’s entertaining, that’s for sure. A little out there for me, but entertaining, nonetheless.
I continue to take my time cleaning up the small drive up coffee stand because I know what’s waiting for me when I get home. If I take too long, he might get bored and tired of waiting. Then he can go see whoever it is he goes to in the middle of the night.
The thought is sobering enough that I’m pissed off and annoyed. I’m not going to avoid my own house because of him. With that, I finish up a couple more things before locking up and driving home.
Wes’s car is parked in his driveway, but instead of going over there, I walk into my house and immediately lock the door behind me.
Not even five minutes later, my phone goes off and somehow I know it’s not from the group chat. I know it’s him, but I refuse to look at it. Instead, I toss it onto the counter, face down and walk to my room.
I change out of my jeans and into some cotton shorts and a T-shirt when there’s a pounding at my front door.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
Of course it’s him.
“Go away,” I tell him through the wood.
“You can’t follow a simple instruction, can you?”
“I can. I just don’t want to. Go away before I call the cops.”
“You won’t.” His deep voice practically vibrates the wood separating us from how close he’s clearly standing. The one thing keeping us apart right now suddenly doesn’t feel protective enough for me. If he really wanted to, he could probably kick it in and not even break a sweat.
“Want to stick around and find out?” I threaten.
“Say the word then, Angel. Say the word, and I go away and this stops.”
The word sticks in my throat. The one thing I know I can say to end this. The one thing I have yet to say.
There’s a thunk on the other side, and I think it’s his forehead hitting the door. “Say it.” His tone sounds threatening, the growl in his voice goes straight between my thighs. He knows I won’t. We both do.
It’s all a part of the game, this back and forth we have.
“If you’re not going to say it, then open this door before your punishment gets worse.”
I steel my spine, yanking the door open. “You don’t get to punish me like I’m some fucking child. What is wrong with yo–”
I’m cut off by Wes grabbing me, and tossing me over his shoulder, closing the door and walking us toward his house while I’m screaming at him to put me down, and smacking his back with my fists.
“Keep it up, Angel. Keep telling me how pissed off you are and how much you don’t want me. We both know it’s a lie, but I like hearing it because it’ll only make it so much sweeter when your body won’t stop coming for me.”
I screech in protest as he carries me into his house, but the fact that his words made my pussy clench in anticipation is a bad sign. A very bad sign. I worry I’m only strong to a certain point, and after that I’m going to be so fucked.