Pulling away from me, he reaches for his leather jacket and throws it on over his black shirt. “Thanks for bringing my jacket back.”
“Fuck you,” I growl out. “And your stupid jacket. I’m so tired of men always trying to tell me what’s best for me, so don’t worry, I won’t be coming around anymore.”
He backs me up against his bed and holds me up by wrapping his arm around my waist and squeezing me roughly. “Look, I like having you around, Lyric, but liking something isn’t a path I can travel down. You getting close to me is dangerous for you,” he growls out. “Now go home.” He releases me and backs away, keeping his troubled eyes on me.
The look on his face as I turn and walk away is a mixture of relief and regret. I’m so pissed at myself, because in a weird, screwed up way this only makes me want him more.
I SIT AT HOME, WATCHING Bailey practically face rape Landen in the living room, until finally I’ve had enough. I need to get some fresh air.
For some reason I still can’t get past my last conversation with Memphis and it’s been eating at me since. I mean . . . why the hell do I even care? He’s no one to me, yet it angers me like nothing else for him to just push me away. In fact, I’m so angry that I couldn’t even force myself to go through the photo shoot edits, despite how bad I’m really looking forward to it.
I clear my throat as Bailey sticks her hand down the front of Landen’s pants and growls, proving that I am in fact invisible now. Who needs to pay for porn? I have it in my living room. “Oh, please don’t mind me. Just pretend that I’m not even here.”
Landen gives me the middle finger and nibbles on Bailey’s neck, causing her to giggle like a drunken little schoolgirl. “Landen!” She squeals. “Stop it! Stop! Oh no, wait . . . now that feels good. Don’t stop.”
Rolling my eyes, I stand up, slip on my jacket, and walk toward the front door. “Later, horny assholes. I’ll be back.”
“Sure . . . bye . . . take your time,” Bailey yells out between giggles.
I make a disgusted face. “Oh, I definitely will, but go to your damn room this time. I’m not paying rent to sit on cum stains. Next time you fuck on my couch you can pay to get that shit cleaned, so I better not come home to disgusting white stains.”
I walk outside, slam the door shut behind me for a dramatized effect, and get ready to walk over to my jeep, but stop myself. I haven’t been able to get any exercise in for a while and I’m starting to feel restless. A walk will be good right about now and will hopefully calm my thoughts, or at least make me forget about that ass.
I shove my keys in my jacket pocket, deciding to walk instead, letting my legs guide me. A rush is starting to build. I need something exciting right now and I know just the place to go.
As I’m walking my phone starts to ring from my other pocket. I reach my hand in my jacket and pull it out. My reaction is always the same seeing his name on the screen. I scowl when I see my father’s name flashing as it rings. It’s been almost six months since I have even heard from him. It pisses me off that he always expects me to pretend everything is normal, and to be happy when he calls. I can’t do that shit and I won’t, especially not tonight. I’m sick of it.
I’ve had enough crap from men. If that man taught me anything, it’s to stand up for myself and never let anyone walk all over me or kick me when I’m down. That’s all he was ever good for, but it also goes for him. Damn hypocrite.
“Go to hell,” I say into the phone as I press the answer button. As quickly as I answered it, I disconnect the call.
I slip my phone back into my pocket and smile to myself, but then I hear distant shouting. I wasn’t prepared the last time I stumbled upon this place, but I’m definitely ready to enjoy myself tonight. The buzz from the wine has worn off and suddenly—I want a different kind of buzz.
I make my way toward the crowd and stand up on my tiptoes to get a glimpse at the fighters that everyone is screaming at. It’s hard to tell from this distance, but one of the guys looks familiar. I push my way through the crowd to get closer and that’s when I realize why. It’s that Trevor guy that I got into it with the last time I was here. He’s fighting some tall, skinny guy with long, blonde hair.
Trevor swings his elbow out and hits the other guy in the nose, before throwing his arms up to cheer the crowd on as the lanky guy stumbles backward. He doesn’t say anything, but you can see the rush in his eyes and the adrenaline he gets from the attention. I’ve seen that look many times before.