Bastard(73)

Later, after all the guests have left, and my mum’s lying down, I head to my bedroom. I hate being back in this house. I never intended to come back here, but in saying that, I also never thought I’d feel as uncomfortable as I do. Even with him gone, it’s still his house so I fucking hate it.

Indi and Larry are both on my mind as I sit on the side of my bed, burying my face in my hands. I wish there was a way I could make this right, but there isn’t. I hate to think what she would’ve gone through finding Larry the way she did. And how much she would’ve suffered after that. How he fucking suffered.

I’m pulled from my thoughts a few minutes later when I hear a horn sound in the driveway next door. Standing, I make my way to the window to see who it is. Instantly I feel my blood pressure rise. There’s a fucking guy in Indi’s driveway.

I know I have no right to be mad, but I am. I’m the one who walked away from us. It would be selfish of me to expect her not to move on. To be honest, as much as I’ve missed and thought about her over the years, I had no intentions of ever coming back for her. Sure I thought about it, constantly, but I believed it was for the best if I didn’t. Seeing this rude prick just now though has me doubting my decision.

He sounds his horn again and I see red. I don’t fucking think so buddy. If this is her boyfriend, and I hope it isn’t, someone needs to teach him some manners. I slide open my window and jump out, just like old times.

“Hey,” I say when I approach the driver’s side window.

“Hey.” The first thing I notice is he’s a fucking pretty boy. I should’ve known.

“Why are you sounding the horn?” I ask annoyed.

“What?” he says squaring his shoulders. If he thinks that’s going to intimidate me, he’s mistaken. I don’t scare easy.

“Are you deaf as well as fucking rude?” I ask, placing my hands on the open window of the door, causing him to pull his head back. Gutless prick.

“Who are you?” he asks with trepidation.

“Who the hell are you?” I’m in no mood for this back and forth bullshit.

“I’m Indiana’s boyfriend.” My heart sinks. She couldn’t possibly be going out with this dick. I have to take a few seconds to recover from this devastating revelation.

Fuck, she has a boyfriend.

“Well if you are in fact her boyfriend, why the hell are you honking your horn? If you were a gentleman, which it’s quite obvious you’re not, why aren’t you getting out of the car to get her like she deserves?” I snap.

“It’s none of your business.” Like hell it isn’t.

“I beg to differ,” I sneer, folding my arms over my chest. I give him a look that surprisingly has him opening up to me.

“Her father can be very intimidating,” he admits with a sigh. “I’m not sure if he’s keen on me dating his daughter. I get the impression he doesn’t like me much.”

“I can see why,” I reply, giving him a look that says I don’t particularly like you either. Because I don’t. Not another word is spoken while we have a kind of standoff staring competition. My eyes are fucking burning, but there’s no way in hell I’m blinking. I’m not backing down. Immature I know, but there’s no way I’m letting this prick win.

“Carter,” Indi snaps from behind me. “What in the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Trying to teach this moron some manners,” I answer turning to face her. Thank fuck she showed up. I don’t know how much longer I could’ve lasted. I blink a few times to try and moisten my dried up eyeballs.

Sweet Jesus. I inhale a sharp breath as my eyes take her in. She looks gorgeous in that sexy-as-hell red dress.

She still takes my breath away after all this time. I hear her dick boyfriend open his car door from behind me. “Get back in the car,” I say through gritted teeth without even looking his way. I can’t, because my eyes are glued to her. When I hear his door close, I smirk to myself. Just what I thought—coward. She deserves so much better. So much fucking better. My smile widens when I hear her growl at me with disdain. She’s so fucking adorable when she’s pissed off.

“Look, Indi,” the wanker says from within the car. “How about we give tonight a miss?”

“What? No.” She frowns, pursing her lips at me before turning her attention back to him. “I’ve just spent the last hour getting ready, Mark.” I can tell. She looks stunning. I have to stop myself from licking my lips as I drink her in. What I wouldn’t give for a taste of grown up Indi.