SIXTY
Harry
“Leave me alone, Emily. You do not want to be around me right now.”
The click of her heels against the pavement grates at my brain, inspiring another memory of Gigi outside this club, with a man putting his filthy fucking hands all over her.
The night is dark, and only the surrounding buildings are lit with a gentle glow, the occasional blinker of a traffic light or a passing car giving me additional sight. But in my head my vision is completely clear, wreaking havoc as I charge ahead to increase the distance between me and that fucking demon trap.
I really shouldn’t have my back to Emily with the risk of sleazy men lurking these streets, but after the display I just saw inside, it’s not safe for me to be around anyone right now without unintentionally causing them harm.
Her grip reaches my jacket, attempting to turn my shoulder. “Talk to me.”
Forcing my hands up between us like a white flag, I warn, “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Is that the girl? The one who was with Andy?”
I sputter, “What? No.”
My eyes burn from how hard they squeeze shut – a similar effect to what I reckon could be achieved through sticking pins into my pupils .
Her voice is soft and wary, like a bystander trying to talk a suicidal man off a ledge. “I saw the way you looked at her while I was speaking—”
I crane my head away. “Stop.”
“Gigi. That’s her name, right?”
“Please be quiet.”
“What was her last name again? Tommy … Tony …?”
“I’m not asking you again.”
“Thomas! It was Thomas, wasn’t it?”
My eyes fly open.
“And she was with Andy. Your friend—”
“He’s my best friend.” I whip my head around. “MY BEST FRIEND!”
My throat is hoarse from raising my voice, and my hands shake with the pressure of having to draw in my anger. I very rarely lose my temper with Emily; she doesn’t push my buttons the way Gigi does.
She doesn’t deserve this. She doesn’t deserve any of this. I’ve been fine keeping my distance at home. I’m only out tonight because she fucking begged me to pull myself together. And look how far that got me.
We were there for barely an hour before Gigi stole my gaze. I was like a moth to a flame.
And then her hands were all over him .
I left before things escalated into something I’d burn my eyes to rid from my memory forever.
The thought of what they’re doing right now makes me feel fucking murderous.
“I’ll drop you home,” I tell Emily. “It’s not safe out here.”