AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Thank you,” I say before handing Rory an appetizer plate. “The crostini is delicious, and the oysters simply melt in your mouth. Shit, I never even asked if you liked seafood.”
“I can’t do this,” Rory mutters as I fill my plate, and I think my heart actually stops.
“Can’t do what? Rory, you’ve been acting odd all night. Are you okay?” I ask worriedly.
She tosses her napkin down and scoots her chair back, gesturing at the table. “This! This isn’t me. This is you! I need to go.” She stands, and I move quickly to cut her off.
“Please, stay with me. I had this all done for you,” I implore, rising to my feet.
Rory scoffs. “You’re deluded, Alistair. This wasn’t for me. It was all for you. The power, the money, the wealth. Look at this place! You’re addicted to it, addicted to these fucking games, to having power.”
“Rory—” I start, but she holds up a hand to cut me off.
“Don’t, Alistair.” She pokes her finger into my chest. “This guy? I don’t like this guy. All he cares about is showing off and basking in what others don’t have. But the man who cuddles in my bed, made me breakfast, brings me coffee and bagels, and takes care of my dog…I like him. This man? The one who glams me up to show me off like some fucking trophy? I fucking despise him.” She makes eye contact with me now, her eyes blazing with anger. “You can keep this fancy meal for yourself.”
Before I can stop her, Rory snatches her coat and storms off. Silence engulfs Liquid Gold as patrons watch our fight, but I don’t even care about the people gawking at me. Let them look, they mean nothing to me. The only person that matters is trying to get as far away from me as she can.
How could I fuck this up so badly? How could I not see?
I can’t let her get away now, because if she does, I’ll never get her back, and that’s something I cannot allow to happen.
With my chest aching painfully at the possible outcome of this night, I rush after her. “Rory, wait! Please!”
I’m not beneath begging or pleading anymore. I’d do anything for this woman. She calls me an addict, but I’m not even using any longer. The only thing I want is her.
I catch her outside and pull her into my chest. “Rory, please. Just give me another chance.”
She pushes away from me. “A chance to what? Shower me with your money? You don’t need to show off for me, Alistair. I know what you Dixen men are all about.”
She couldn’t be more wrong. I didn’t bring her here to show off, I brought her here to make her feel good, to prove I can provide for her, and to show I care, but right now, she can’t see that. “Rory, please listen,” I call as she struggles from my grasp and storms away. “You have to understand this is what I’m used to. Women date me for what I am, not who I am. I don’t know any different.”
She pauses and turns back, and I know this is my one fucking shot at recovering from this.
“If you want to see the real me, the one who makes you breakfast and loves Mischief, then please, give me another chance. I know I don’t deserve it, but fuck…” I slide my fingers through my hair in exasperation. I’ve never begged a woman like this before, but I’d do anything for her. “I need you, Rory. Please, kitten, give me another chance.”
Frederick pulls up in the Jag. He gets out of the car and walks over to the back, but I hold up my hand. Fishing out my wallet from inside my coat, I hand him two hundred dollars. “Grab an Uber, will you? I want to drive.”
Frederick nods and hands me the keys before pulling out his phone. I slowly walk to the passenger door and pull it open. “Please, Rory. Come with me. Give me this one chance to show you the real me. If I fail, I won’t ever ask you again.”
Rory doesn’t move at first, and I think I’ve lost her, but then she takes a tentative step toward me and I feel my shoulders sag in relief. “One shot,” she says, then slips into the car.
I shut the door and consider sliding across the Jag’s hood in my excitement, but I try to play cool as I walk around the car and get in like a normal person.
After closing the door and fastening my seat belt, I slip the car into gear and pull into traffic. We drive through the busy part of the city, then to the outskirts. Rory doesn’t ask where we’re going. Hell, she doesn’t ask me anything at all. She just sits there with her arms and legs crossed, looking pissed off.
Why do I find her even more adorable right now? I desperately want to pull over, yank her dress up, pull her panties to the side, and take her over the hood of my car. Maybe I could fuck some sense into her.
I know my kitten likes it rough, I’ve seen what she watches on Pornicopia. She’d fucking like it. Shit, I would too.
But first I need to claim her fucking mind, then I’ll own her body.
Silently, I drive us to a derelict part of town where the buildings are run-down, houses have boards across their windows, and there is more than one vacant lot. There are no children to fill the streets, no Christmas lights, no happiness to be found anywhere.
My Jag looks very out of place here, and jealous eyes watch us as we drive slowly down a street filled with potholes, all the way to the end. It’s there where I stop the car and exit before opening her door and helping her out.
A single streetlight casts its glow on the dilapidated park, but even in its decrepit state, it brings me joy. Everywhere I look is a memory. Though the slide is toppled on its side and half rusted away, I remember Maddox pushing me down it.
The swings, once filled with children, now stand empty. White paint has chipped from the metal, and two rusted swings creak in the wind where half a dozen once hung.
