AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Mike scoffed and shot Faith a look of disbelief. Luckily, Faith remained in her seat.
“Fuck this,” he said, storming to the bar and barking an order at the bartender.
Before I knew it, I’d swallowed the distance of the room. I’d seen too many men like Mike disrespect people to be okay with it. Had seen too many people treat my mom like that. “Apologize,” I demanded, venom dripping from my lips.
I loathed men like this who thought they were the shit—that other people were dispensable, only there to serve them.
Not on my watch.
When he had the audacity to scoff again, I closed the remaining distance between us. “I said, apologize.”
The young woman behind the bar had turned crimson, eyes darting between us.
“Fuck this,” he said, pushing my chest. I remained firmly in place, further infuriating the neanderthal in front of me. “This is bullshit. I’m leaving,” he said, storming toward the door.
I held myself back, which was a goddamn miracle.
This guy was an absolute nightmare to everyone, but most importantly to Faith, and that was nearly enough to send me over the edge.
I heard shuffling behind me.
Faith stood, staring at me. I’d give away half my wealth to know what was going on behind those piercing eyes of hers.
Instead, she lifted her purse, a small clutch that probably held nothing more than a credit card and a lipstick. “I should get going.”
“Faith. Leave that guy,” Dominic said, giving voice to my inner thoughts.
Except my inner thoughts were practically shouting for her to leave him and I had a few expletives on the tip of my tongue that I somehow left unsaid.
Faith plastered on a smile. One that didn’t ring true to me because it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Brother, simmer down. It’s fine. Besides, I’m tired.”
Dominic frowned. “Are you really tired or are you just saying that so you can go clubbing with your friends?”
Her face transformed. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Dominic leveled her with a brotherly glance. “Sure, you don’t.”
Faith hugged her brother before rounding the table to hug Jerome. I froze in place, wondering if I’d be next.
When Jerome stepped back from their quick embrace, Faith gave me a passing glance. “Bye, Sebastian.”
No hug then.
“Bye, Faith.”
She didn’t leave immediately though. She froze there as well, remaining in place.
And that tug between us grew stronger. More powerful.
It was then I knew I needed to stay as far away from Faith as possible.
FOUR
FAITH
“And don’t forget to wash your brushes. You’ll thank me when you go to use them next week. And don’t half ass it either. That won't work,” I shouted as I finished up my latest art class at McKinley Library.
My brother’s girlfriend, Daisy, insisted I started volunteering my time at her library to help introduce art to under-resourced families in this little corner of New York City. I loved it more than I thought I would.
