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How many times has Avery had to endure such behavior when I wasn’t sitting here watching her?
Five minutes later, Avery comes out with her coat on and her purse slung around her shoulder. “I’m ready.” She slides her hands into her coat pockets.
“One second. Stay here.” I plant her against the wall. “Do not move, understand?”
She wrinkles her brow. “What are you doing? You have that look you get when you’re about to do something infuriating.”
“You’ll be mad, but it’s not going to stop me. Stay put.” I squeeze her shoulders, then go over to her boss, who’s counting the drawer. “This is going to be Avery’s last night.”
He looks up at me, color draining from his cheeks. “Uh, okay.” He looks past me at Avery. “Did something happen? She had a good shift. No one even pinched her ass tonight.”
“Pinched her ass?” I keep my voice low. “So, you let these assholes pinch her?”
“No. I don’t let anything, but you know how guys get when they’ve put back a few.” He’s making excuses for his failure.
I press my hands flat on the bar and lean toward him. The two men flanking me sipping on their beers with their faces upturned toward the televisions slowly turn toward me.
“If I find out you let any of these pricks pinch Sharon’s ass, or any other female’s ass, I’m coming back for you. Do you understand me?”
He swallows hard and nods. “Yeah. I get it.”
Avery’s eyes are wide when I get back to her. “I can’t quit this job, Luka.”
“You already did.” I grab her hand and hold it firmly. “I don’t like it here. The beer was horrible, and that prick can’t protect you. You’re done here.”
“But nothing even happened tonight!” She’s practically whining as I pull her from the bar. The rain has let up, but there’s a thin mist in the air.
“How many times have you had your ass pinched?” I demand as we reach my car.
“I don’t know.” She shrugs. “They’re drunk assholes. Sometimes they get handsy, but it’s never gone beyond that.”
“Get in the car before I go back in there and make you point out anyone who’s ever touched you.” I yank her door open.
“What’s gotten into you? All night you were fine. Then all of a sudden you get all protective and weird. What did Maxim say to you?” She folds her arms over her chest, like she’s not going to move until she gets her answer.
“Fine. Let’s go back inside.” I start to shut the door, but she jumps into the car.
“You made your point.” She pulls on the door handle trying to close it herself, but I’m holding it from her.
“And what point is that?” I ask, leaning into the car.
“There’s no talking to you when you get like this.” She tucks her purse onto her lap. “If I don’t do what you say now, you’ll go back in there and break someone’s skull.”
“Close enough.”
Avery
I shootKevin a text letting him know I need a few weeks off, but if the job’s still available, I’ll be back. He simply responds with a thumbs up. I hate that emoji. How the hell am I supposed to take that?
Luka’s reaction is overkill. It always is when it comes to my safety, or what he perceives as safety. And a week ago I would have fought him about what he did, but he’s worn me down over the past week. I don’t see his actions as some over-the-top controlling asshole anymore. He does these stupid things because he wants me safe. He can’t sit with me at the bar every shift to be sure nothing happens, so why wouldn’t he want me to stop working there? And I can be honest with myself—it feels good to have someone care about me. But not just anyone. Him. His overprotectiveness is like his love language. It’s how he tells me he cares, even though he’ll never say the words.
“What were you doing with your phone?” Luka comes to stand beside me. He’s dragged me into the city to a nightclub.
“I was texting.” I slide my phone back into my purse before he has a chance to grab it and see what I did. This is definitely awhat he doesn’t know won’t kill himsituation.
“Who were you texting?” He brushes his fingers over my jaw. The strong beat of the music vibrates the floor, and the crush of people make it difficult to have a quiet conversation.
“Why did you want to come here?” I take the drink he offers me, another vodka and cranberry.
