Chapter 9 #2
Mae’s face darkens. “That’s because he’s a master manipulator on top of being a narcissist.”
I run my hand over my face, feeling exasperated. “Maybe I should have broken it off months ago and—”
Mae places her hand over mine. “This is not on you,” she says decisively. “His behavior isn’t your fault. Telling somebody you’re calling it off should be enough.”
It should be, but Damien has never been one to take “no” easily.
He’s charming when he wants to be, pulling me in with his sweet words and a half smile that shows off the dimple in his cheek.
He was relentless in pursuing me, even though I wasn’t really sure I wanted something serious when we met, but I couldn’t resist his sweet-talking.
Maybe that should have been my first red flag.
A sense of unease has icy tingles running down my spine.
Blinking, my gaze meets sharp dark eyes staring at me from across the room.
Damien.
He’s talking to a group of his work buddies as they enter the bar, but his eyes are glued to me, and even from afar I can see a predatory gleam that makes my stomach twist in discomfort.
Before I can look away, Aiden steps in front of me, cutting him from my view.
“Hey, Jessy! I didn’t realize you were here.” A teasing smile plays on his lips as he glances at Mae. “We always have to fight her to get her to come with us after a shift.”
“Because I’m usually beat by then. What are you doing here?”
Aiden shrugs. “Just waiting on some buddies, so I figured I’d say hi.”
Loud voices draw our attention—everybody’s attention, really—as they pass by. They’re rowdy, self-centered, and clearly had a few drinks before coming over, and are already well on their way to getting drunk.
Damien’s eyes narrow on Aiden before they shift to me, and I can see the muscle in his jaw tic in annoyance as he goes out of his way to bump his shoulder into Aiden’s as he walks by him.
“What an asshole,” Mae mutters, glaring after them.
I shoot Aiden an apologetic look. “I’m so sorry about that.”
“It’s fine.” Aiden offers me a reassuring smile. “I don’t really think your boyfriend likes me.”
“Ex-boyfriend,” Mae corrects, and lifts her glass. “Amen to that.”
Aiden’s brows shoot up in surprise. “Really? Well, I guess that explains a lot.”
“Apparently, it makes him even more of an asshole.” I grab my drink, downing the rest of it in one go. “Hopefully, he’ll give up soon.”
Mae’s expression turns dark. “Guys like him don’t give up just because you tell them to.”
She’s right. We both know it.
I can still feel his gaze locked on me, watching from somewhere and waiting for his chance.
My stomach rolls just thinking about it.
“You’re not helping, Mae.”
My friend gives me an apologetic smile before looking up and flagging down a server for another round, a pensive expression on her face as she turns to me.
I shift in my seat. “What?”
I know that look, and it never ends up well when she gets it.
It’s the look that got us in trouble when we ditched class in high school.
It’s the look she had when she suggested we sneak out her window and go to a party when I was sleeping over at her house when we were seventeen. That look? It spells trouble.
“Maybe you should show him.”
“Show him?” My brows pull together as I glance at Aiden, who’s equally as confused. “What are you talking about, Mae?”
“Damien. He won’t take no for an answer, but if you show him you’ve moved on, he’ll leave you alone.”
“You’re crazy.” I’m shaking my head before she can even finish, but I don’t get a chance to say anything else because the server comes with our drinks.
“It’s a brilliant idea, if I do say so myself,” she continues the moment he’s gone.
“Mae, the last thing I need is a man in my life. Besides, I’m not going to date somebody just so my ex can get the memo and leave me alone.”
My best friend lifts her drink, her eyes meeting mine over the rim of her glass. “Who said anything about dating? Or it being real, for that matter?”
My lips part as I gape at her, trying to figure out if this is some kind of joke, but nope, Maisie is dead serious.
“Did you hit your head? Get bitten by one of those strays with rabies and now you’re hallucinating?”
“None of my dogs have rabies, thank you very much. You know I’m right.” She glances at Aiden, who seems equally as thrown off as me. “Tell her I’m right.”
Aiden opens his mouth, but I wave him off.
“Ignore her,” I tell Aiden, shaking my head. “She’s delusional. Can we please talk about something else? How is that dog training going?”
If there is one thing Mae can’t shut up about, it’s her animal shelter. She loves all animals but has an especially soft spot for stray dogs.
Mae’s eyes narrow at me. “I know what you’re trying to do, missy.” She jabs her finger into my arm. “You can try to change the topic all you want, but we both know I’m right.”
“Mae…” I groan, exasperated.
“Fine, fine. I’m just saying.” My friend lifts her arm in defense. “Things are good. Chase thinks Duke would make an amazing search and rescue K9, and he’s been working with him a lot. He’s been doing really well and loves working, so now it’ll be a matter of politics.”
Aiden’s friends finally show up, so he excuses himself. I finish my drink as I listen to her talk about the logistics of it before shifting the subject to the new stray she picked up. She’s just finishing when her phone lights up with a message that grabs her attention.
“Damn, I’ve gotta go.” Mae slides off her chair, still looking at the phone.
“Is everything all right?” I finish my drink and follow suit.
“Somebody brought a wounded dog to the shelter.” She quickly types something back before looking at me. “You going home?”
“I need to go to the bathroom first, but I’ll see you in class?”
We’ve enrolled in a Pilates class our gym started offering recently. It was our way of trying to exercise. Now, if we wouldn’t miss half the classes…
“Yeah, I think so.” She hugs me goodbye, but before she can leave, she gives me another pointed look. “Think about what I said.”
Not giving me a chance to reprimand her, she turns around and goes for the door.
Shaking my head, I watch her before going in the opposite direction.
The place is busy, but surprisingly there’s no line for the restroom, so I manage to slip inside and do my business quickly. I wash my hands, my gaze fixed on the reflection in the mirror. Smoothing down my hair, I reapply my lipstick and get out, only to bump into a firm body.
An uneasy feeling makes a shudder go through me as I look up and come face-to-face with none other than Damien.
Shit, shit, shit.
“Excuse—”
I step around him—or try to—but he just sidesteps in front of me, caging me against the wall.
“We have to talk, babe.”
I suck in a breath, the smell of sweat and beer filling my nostrils, and I have to swallow back a gag. I press my hand against his chest, trying to push him away. “There is nothing to talk about, Damien. You need to stop this.”
“I don’t think so. You can’t just dismiss me like you’ve been trying to do,” he grinds through clenched teeth.
He leans down, his nose brushing the side of my neck, his warm breath tickling my skin and making another shudder rock my body.
Damien smirks, his words coming out slightly slurred.
“See? Even your body craves me. You can’t deny it. You want me.”
I want him to stop touching me, more likely. Not that he sees that the reason I’m shuddering is in revulsion at his touch. His clammy hands and warm, beer-tainted breath touching my skin.
“I don’t. Damien, stop—” I try to protest, but he’s not listening. He’s too drunk to consider my wishes.
“Or do you just like the idea of me chasing you around? Is that what you want, babe?”
“No.”
I let out a strangled breath as I shove harder against him. The audacity of a man to say in a woman’s face that she wants to be chased when she’s trying to push him away.
“No, Damien. I don’t want you to chase me. You wanted to break up, so we did.”
“I was drunk, babe.” Damien’s lips brush against my neck. “You know I didn’t mean it.”
His fingers cup my face as he tilts my head back. My heart is hammering against my ribcage wildly as the panic rises inside my chest.
“We’re good together, Jessy. You know it, so stop this nonsense and come back to me.”
“We were not good together, Damien. We were fighting most of the time.”
“Couples fight, nothing new about it. C’mon, babe. Give me another chance.”
I shake my head, trying to find a way to get out of here, but even though he’s half drunk, his hold is unyielding. He leans down, his lips parting, and I know he’s about to press them against mine.
I turn my head to the side, Mae’s suggestion ringing in my head.
Show him.
I know I shouldn’t say it. It’ll only mess things up more than they already are, but I can’t stop myself.
“Well, I did mean it.” Sliding my tongue over my dry lips, I lift my chin a notch, my gaze darting to him. “As a matter of fact, I’m s-seeing s-somebody else.”
He blinks, confusion shining in his eyes as he stares at me. I hold my breath as I observe him, the way his eyes narrow, lips pressing into a tight line, and even in the darkness I can see his cheeks turn beet red.
He’s pissed.
He takes a step toward me, pressing me tighter against the wall. My body freezes as I brace for whatever’s coming, when a shadow falls over us.
“Is there a problem here?”