Chapter 14 Verity
FOURTEEN
Verity
“Get off.” I shove at Carl’s chest, but he doesn’t move.
“Was that really your boyfriend?”
“Yeah.” I push him again, this time managing to put space between us.
“You guys got some kind of open arrangement?”
“Uh, no.” I struggle to retie the dress’s halter top. “The opposite.”
“You real calm for a girl who got caught cheating.” He laughs. “But if you ain’t worried about it, I ain’t either.”
The word cheating scrapes across my skin so sharply, I’m surprised it didn’t draw blood. Carl squeezes my ass and pulls me close again, his hard dick pressing into my stomach.
“No.” I push him so hard he stumbles back, his head cracking against the open stall door.
“Crazy bitch,” he spits, fury eclipsing the lust from moments ago. “Flashing your pussy and dancing on tables. You lucky I’m the only one in here right now. We all planned to hit it before the end of the night.”
“The hell you did.” I tug my dress down and push past him out of the stall.
“Wait a minute.” He grabs my elbow and drags me back in, pushes me to my knees. “Been leading me on all night. I’m at least getting my dick sucked.”
“If I scream,” I warn, “there are enough people in there that somebody’s coming.”
He drops my arm like he just found out I have leprosy.
“Something’s wrong with you,” he says, rushing out of the stall.
The only sound in the quiet restroom is the swoosh as the door swings closed behind Carl.
Sitting on my heels, I droop against the wall, as close to tired as I’ve been all night.
For days I’ve been in constant motion and seeking ways to expend this unrelenting energy.
It still feels like something is buzzing under my skin; like rocket fuel is burning through my veins, but that look on Monk’s face—a dulling of his eyes, disillusionment, pain—is the only thing that has slowed me down.
There is a part of me that knows this is urgent, that I should be racing to beg his forgiveness.
That I could lose him for good, but I can’t remember why that is important when the world is still so alive and waiting for me.
I grab my purse and rush back into the dining room, scanning the area for the group of guys who encircled me all night.
They’re gone. Maybe Carl warned them they weren’t getting what they thought I was promising.
Whatever drove them away, it’s their loss.
I spot a new group of people by the pool table.
I can’t face Monk, not yet. I’ll give him a few hours to calm down.
For now, time to make new friends. I saunter over to them, my steps light and my heart lifting the closer I draw to their laughing circle.
“Hi! I’m Verity,” I say, sweeping the group with a bright smile. “Drinks on me!”