At least she was over talking about Ophelia. I wouldn’t have to escape just yet. I stood to go get myself a drink. I sure as hell needed one. With a sideways glance in the direction Ophelia had gone, I found her easily enough since she made others pale in comparison when she entered a room. She was talking with yet another man I didn’t know and the grin she was giving him had his rapt attention. I doubted he knew what had hit him.
Ophelia may have acted like she thought nothing of our night together, but she’d thought something. It was clear she was angry with me. I hadn’t called and she was not okay with that. She’d expected me to. I wanted to. God how I’d wanted to.
Coming tonight had been a bad idea.
JUNE 07 / 9:41 PM
Ophelia Finlay
BEFORE THE CREDITS began to roll, I slipped out the back door to the theatre. I was done with pretending like I was happy to be here and that I enjoyed flirting with all the men I’d spoken to. The movie had been a reprieve from that but now it was over, I was afraid a couple of the guys I’d talked to might want to talk some more. I knew them all, of course. Once Bay Howington had even been my boyfriend in the eighth grade. I’d broken up with him at thirteen and wasn’t interested in going down that road again.
They were guys I chose strategically because I knew Eli wouldn’t know them and because I felt comfortable enough to talk to them. I hadn’t counted on a couple getting the wrong idea. Regardless, I had been a manipulative jealous bitch and now I needed to get out of here before it got worse.
Just as I opened the door leading to the stairs that went back up to the main level, a hand touched my elbow and I jumped with a squeal of surprise. The dimly lit hallway had been empty and everyone else was still inside the theatre. Spinning around to see who had touched me, my words of scolding for scaring me half to death I saw Bay attempting a charming smile. He may possibly consider it sexy. I deserved this.
He was close and I hadn’t been expecting to see him or anyone else during my escape. “Jesus, Bay! What are you doing out here lurking in the hallway?” I snapped, moving back away from him. I wasn’t in the mood to pretend to flirt anymore. Bay needed to go back inside and forget my earlier friendliness.
“I didn’t mean to startle you. I just saw you leave and figured if I wanted to catch you before you left. Maybe we could go get drinks or something.” The way he said “something” made me inwardly cringe. I’d chosen poorly when I’d picked Bay as one of the men to give extra attention to tonight. I deserved this. I really did. However, it still annoyed me. My asking about his mother and listening to him go on about his very brief marriage hadn’t exactly been romantic conversation.
“I’m tired and ready to go home,” I replied, hoping he left it at that. He shifted his arrogant stance and it moved him a few inches closer to me. I, in return, back up just as much. We weren’t going to get cozy out here. I was trying to leave. Surely, that was obvious.
“Maybe tomorrow evening then? I’d like to reconnect. It’s been too long.” He had dropped his voice an octave. I would not be rude and roll my eyes no matter how badly I wanted to. This was the Bay from high school. The one who thought he was king. He hadn’t changed at all. Not even when his wife left him for another man. His ego was still going strong.
“No, I don’t think so. I’m busy and not looking to connect with anyone.” That was blunt. I could have been softer with my refusal, but I doubted Bay would allow me to be anything but blunt to shake him loose.
He leaned in with a creepy smile. “Sure didn’t seem that way earlier.”
No, it hadn’t. Because I’d been busy acting like a jealous female. Ignoring Eli would have been sufficient. Why had I decided to flirt?
“Bay, I was just being friendly. I want to go now, so if you’ll excuse me,” I said and started to turn when he reached out and took my hand in his. I tried to snatch it back, but he held firm.
“She said she was leaving. Let go of her hand.” Eli’s deep voice wasn’t loud, but the threat in it was clear. I swung my glare from Bay to Eli.
He was standing there with his hands in his pockets and his eyes on me.