He wants to hurt me, and even though I deserve it, it pains me that I can’t just have one night to myself.
“It’s not your fault, man, she likes to make me jealous by sleeping around. No hard feelings. I’ll keep an eye on her for the rest of the night, make sure she doesn’t suck some random guy off in the bathroom, again.” Sullivan says dramatically. My mouth pops open, shock overtaking me.
What. The. Fuck?
The other guy’s eyes grow wider, if at all possible, his cheeks turning crimson red, before he mutters a sorry and walks away. Once the poor guy is out of sight I turn towards Sullivan with my fists clenched, anger burning in my veins.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” I yell, shoving at his chest with both hands.
I expect him to say something, do something, anything, but instead he tips his head back and starts to laugh, and not just a normal laugh either. This is a belly shaking, laugh your face off laugh. If he wanted to embarrass me, to make me feel like dirt then he’s succeeded, again.
“You’re a piece of shit, Sullivan, and I wish that I never kissed you that night. I’m sorry for what happened, okay? I’m sorry, but this? This is too much. I don’t care that I hurt you, nothing warrants this. Nothing.” I growl and shove at him again. My little outburst is gathering attention, and I can already hear the whispers swirling around. Twisting around on my wedges, I start to walk away, but I make it less than a step before Sullivan’s meaty paw lands on my shoulder halting me.
“We’re done, when I say…” All logical thinking goes out the window, all I feel is rage, red hot rage and before I realize what I’m doing, my hand is moving through the air. Even over the music I can hear the loud slap of skin on skin as my palm makes contact with his cheek. Pain lances across my hand, but I don’t care if I hurt him.
His words hurt me more than he could ever know. The blow causes him to take a step back, and out of the corner of my eye I see his gaze widen, his eyebrows lifting up to his hairline with shock. Like a fish gasping for air his mouth pops open. Lifting a hand to his cheek he touches the red mark left behind as if he can’t believe that I actually slapped him.
There’s a tightening in my chest, and it feels like my heart is breaking. Those blue eyes of his—that I’ve seen filled with compassion, and maybe even kindness in the past—fill with anger.
“Leave me alone. I’m done playing your games,” I say feeling defeated, and this time when I turn to walk away, he lets me. My eyes are burning with unshed tears as I make my way through the crowded dance floor pushing anyone who doesn’t move fast enough out of the way. I’m not sure my night can get any worse, and then it does.
Right before I walk out, I spot Oliver and Banks lounging on a leather sofa near the door. Each of them have a girl cuddled up beside them. I know it shouldn’t bother me so much seeing them with other girls, hell, it shouldn’t bother me at all, not after what just happened. But I can’t help the sting of jealousy that lashes through me. It’s like someone poured acid in my chest and I’m being painfully burned from the inside out.
They both look up as I approach. My chest heaves and I feel like I can’t get enough air into my lungs. Oliver meets my eyes first, his smug smile turning into a frown but I don’t know why. Before I can study his expression further, the long-legged blonde slides onto his lap and covers her lips with his.
Lips that I kissed only days ago. Lips that I can still feel on mine.
I clench my hands into tight fists and glance over at Banks, his eyebrows are drawn together almost as if he’s concerned. It doesn’t make sense, none of them really care. I’ve dug my own hole, and pushing them, letting them kiss me, touch me has just buried myself deeper. Unable to stand there and look at them a second longer I start walking out the door.
“That’s right. Run along little girl,” the bimbo on Banks’ arm calls after me. I don’t give her a second glance. She’s not worth it. Not worth the anger. The pain. She deserves Banks. I just push out the door and into the cool September night. The tipsiness I felt moments ago completely vanished. The reality of it all hitting me is more sobering than a bucket full of ice water raining down on me.