“I should have known,” Jude pulls out a chair. “My Cousin, Axel here only loves the crazy ones, no offense roommate,” He winks at her then brings his full attention back to me. “And of course I know Lilah, she’s the only girl in high school who wouldn’t let me kiss her, the only girl who slept next to me but not with me, and the love of my life until she crushed my heart and ran away nearly killing me in the process. Completely heartless, this one. Imagine wanting someone so badly and not realizing the entire time you wanted, they waited with a knife to stab you with. But hey, water under the bridge.”
Charlie’s mouth drops open.
I can’t elbow her, but I do flick her with her straw. She’s unfazed as it lands in front of her, and my heart is pounding so hard I swear Jude can hear it as well as everyone else in the club.
“I uh—” I shove my chair back. “Need to use the restroom, I’ll be right back.”
I bolt in a flurry of confusion toward the restrooms and try to gain my composure when I look at my flushed cheeks in the mirror.
Not true.
He’s lying.
He’s using me.
He’s taunting me.
He hates me.
Don’t let him get in. He’s dangerous.
Shaking, I tuck my hair behind my hears, wash my hands for literally no reason other than I need the cold water to shake me out of my own head, grab a paper towel, and toss it in the trash before jerking open the door and nearly colliding with the guy from earlier.
“Whoaaaa.” He steadies himself with me and blinks up in a blur of drunkenness. “Knew you’d be back for more.” He shoves me hard against the wall. “Hmmm, wanna come inside the bathroom? Nobody’s in there.” His hands move to my hips and slide down to my ass. I shove him away. He keeps me pinned.
He’s clearly stronger.
“Let me go,” I hiss not wanting to resort to hurting him or making him angry. “I’ll scream.”
“Like anyone could hear you in the club.” He laughs and leans his face in and tries to kiss me. I turn away only to have him grab me by the neck and hold me steady as his soured whiskey breath exhales on me. His mouth descends and then he’s gone, jerked away from me so fast I choke out a breath.
“Asshole!” Jude yells. “You like touching things hmm?” He slams him back against the wall and punches him across the face, then pulls him to his feet and knocks him into the men’s restroom. ‘Be back.” He calls over his shoulder.
And then he’s gone. All I hear is screaming “stop, stop, stop,” and then banging.
It’s maybe two minutes before Jude is back. He looks calm, too calm, and from the open crack of the door I see two feet on the ground.
Jude cracks his neck and rubs his bloodied right hand. “You okay?”
I gape. “Are y-you okay?” Why? Why did he help me? Why didn’t he just let the guy attack me? I’m so confused I want to cry. My emotions can’t take it. They’re all over the place. One tear spills over followed by another.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Jude grabs my hand and pulls me against him. He smells so good. He smells familiar and if I try really hard I can forget the trauma attached to him for one second and remember his pretty handwriting, his pretty words, and his safe hugs.
God I missed it.
I cling to him longer than I should.
I’m angry. I’m confused. I’m scared.
I’m so lost.
I was gone for years.
It took him days to break down my defenses by simply existing. Was his hold that strong? Yes. Yes it was. It is.
“It doesn’t matter how much I hate you for what you did, hate is never an excuse to physically harm a girl or make her feel unsafe. I’ll watch you from afar, I’ll get in your head,” He holds me tighter. “I will never lay a hand on you. That’s the difference. I’d rather torment your mind; your body is and will always be yours.” He pulls away and wipes at my cheeks. “Let’s get you a drink.”
“And him?”
