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Ihurry as I tidy the classroom. It's the end of the school week, and I'm glad it's the weekend. It's been a long week and I'm tired, but I'm excited that I get to spend the entire weekend with Grayson. I'm falling deeper and deeper for him. It's funny how love comes when you least expect it. I certainly didn't expect Grayson. I had planned to stay single and just have fun while I regrouped from the pain of being with Harry.
"Have fun this weekend, Esme," Daisy Creek, my friend who’s also a teacher here at the school, says with a wicked grin as she stands in the doorway of my classroom. "If I had the hunk you do warming my bed, I certainly wouldn't be coming up for air."
I laugh as I shake my head. God, I should never have told her about Grayson or showed her a picture. She waves goodbye as she passes by my classroom. "See you on Monday," she shouts behind her.
I'm still smiling as I finish tidying up. I grab my keys and purse before I head toward the door. It's good to be going home.
Once I’m outside, I notice my car is one of only three left in the parking lot. This happens a lot. I try to get everything set up for the next school day. By the time I end up leaving for the day, I'm usually one of the last to leave.
"Esmerelda." I hear the deep growl that sets my skin on edge. I grit my teeth and turn to see Harry striding toward me.
"Harry, what are you doing here?" I ask. "This is my workplace. You can't just show up here."
He invades my space, pushing me against the car door, his words dripping with menace. "Had a visit from your boyfriend today. You like it rough now, baby?"
I shudder with revulsion at him calling me baby. "Don't call me that," I seethe. "Back off, Harry. You shouldn't be here."
His lips form a vicious sneer. "You pushed me too far, Esmerelda," he growls as he clamps his fingers around my wrist. "I gave you the chance to cry and get over yourself, but you didn't listen. A man like me needs respect and you haven't shown any of that."
I wrench against his unyielding grasp. "Respect? What kind of sick game are you playing this time, Harry?"
"You and me, we're getting married," he spits out. “Just as you agreed to when you said yes all those years ago.”
My mind reels at his declaration. "You're insane," I choke out. "God, Harry, no way am I marrying you. I hate you. You cheated on me. There’s no way that I’d ever marry you." He pulls on my wrist, causing me to slam into him, his face only inches from mine. His fingers dig deeper into my wrist until tears burn in my eyes from the pain. "Let go of me!" I scream at him.
"No," he snarls. "You had your chance to cry and get over what happened. Now it's time to come back home."
"Never!" I yell as I pull against him with all my strength. "Let go of me! You can't possibly think I'd want to be with you after everything that happened."
The color drains from his face as rage pools in his dark eyes. "That was a mistake," he rasps through clenched teeth. "I told you already; let it go."
"A mistake is once," I shriek as I struggle against him with all my might. "Let go of me! You're hurting me."
He releases my wrist and shoves me away. I collapse to the ground, holding my wrist as tears burn my eyes. I scramble away from him, pressing myself against the car door, my nostrils flaring as I try to catch my breath.
"I gave you a chance to get over yourself," Harry hisses as he leans down, picking up my purse and tossing it to me. "We belong together, Esmerelda. We're starting over."
I shake my head as tears cascade down my face. "No," I cry. "That's never going to happen."
"I've warned you before about how you should be." There's a sharp pain in my side as he delivers an abrupt kick, causing me to cry out.
"Get up, Esmerelda," he commands in that low growl that sends chills up my spine. "We're going home."
I shake my head. "No," I rasp as I draw my trembling knees up to my chest. "Get away from me, Harry."
He snarls as he grabs my arm, trying to drag me to my feet. "I'm not going to ask you again, Esmerelda," he growls as he grabs my other arm and hauls me to my feet. "You're coming with me."
"You fucking bastard!" I scream at the top of my lungs as I try wrenching away from him. "I hate you! I'll never go anywhere with you!" I can't bear the thought of being anywhere near him. Not ever again.
He yanks me back and slams my body into his own. "Don't make me hurt you, Esmerelda," he snarls with warning in his eyes. "Just come home with me. I won't ask you again."
"No," I cry out in defiance as I try to wrench out of his grasp. "Let me go, you bastard! I'm not going anywhere with you!" The pain that rips through me when I yell almost has me doubling over. It's so sore.
"I warned you," he hisses as he smashes his fist into the side of my face, causing me to scream out in pain. Tears blind me as the sky spins around me. He pauses, glancing behind him. He leans forward, his lips pulled into a snarl. "This is a warning," he growls as I hear footsteps hurrying toward us. "You'll be home with me soon. End this bullshit with that biker, Esmeralda. I'm warning you." He pushes me to the ground once again. This time, he walks away, moving toward his car in a rush.
"Esme," someone calls as I hear the sound of a car peeling out of the parking lot. I manage to pull myself to my feet, blinking rapidly to keep the darkness that's creeping in at bay.
"I'm okay," I assure Mr. Routledge, the principal. My tears are still falling thickly. "Honestly, I'm a little shaken, but I'm okay."
