“Get your fucking hands off her.” I barely recognize my voice as it reaches my ears. Someone stumbles into my back, from the low curse I assume it’s Landon, but it’s not something I can focus on.
My pulse quickens while everything else in me tenses. I’m moving before I even make the decision to do so.
When I came around the street corner and saw Lilly pressed against the building, my stomach dropped to the ground. She sags against the wall, flashing a fleeting smile in my direction before her wide-eyed gaze snaps back to the man holding her. Seeing that was enough to set everything in motion.
I know without looking over my shoulder that Grey and Landon are on my heels.
The pale, thinning man glances over his shoulder at us.
“This doesn’t concern you. Just a small disagreement between my girlfriend and I,” my teeth grind together painfully when he has the nerve to call her his girlfriend, my hands clench into fists as he throws us a cocky grin and an eye roll, “She’s just being dramatic.”
He turns back to Lilly, speaking low and threatening as if he’s conceited enough to think I’d actually walk away. Something nags in my brain, making me think this idiot is her ex-boyfriend, the one she left to get away from, which only causes heat to flush through my body.
“Don’t be difficult about this. Now, let’s go home.” He yanks her by the wrist, pulling her away from the wall. My eyes focus coolly on the spot where his hand is gripping her wrist, my blood pressure rises as a painful cry escapes Lilly’s lips. I step next to her, grabbing his arm and squeezing tightly, my voice even more scathing than I ever thought possible.
“Let. Her. Go.” I growl.
He pales as his mouth gapes open for a moment, but he stands his ground and keeps his hold on Lilly.
“Dude, I appreciate the tough macho guy routine, but we don’t need it here. My girl was just being a brat, bu—” I don’t think, I just react. He’s cut off by my fist meeting his face. The moment he called her a brat, there was no stopping me. I watch withsatisfaction as he finally lets go of Lilly and falls to the ground. His eyes widen as he visibly trembles on the spot while he slowly reaches up to cup his cheek.
I take a step toward him, adrenaline rushing through my body as I stand over him. The sound of Greyson on the phone with the police barely registers and it isn’t until I hear her voice that I finally turn away.
The sight of Lilly staring at me wide-eyed as she relaxes against the building has me forgetting everything else and moving to her. My chest constricts as I see how pale she is, the desire to check her out and make sure she is okay overrides everything else.
“Get your ass moving. I’ve left you alone for a week and I can’t take it anymore.” With one last look at the city across the channel, I sigh as I make my way back inside, making sure to lock the door behind me.
The only reason I’m not over thinking or worrying that Paige must hate me for basically ghosting her, is because she’s my best friend. She knew that a week of solitude was exactly what I needed to cope, that it had nothing to do with her. I didn’t need to explain that my need to be alone, even after moving to a new city, wasn’t because I don’t like being social.
After fifteen years of friendship, we’ve each had a front row seat to all the highs and lows of life. Paige was by my side when my parents went to court for their divorce the first time… as well as the sixth. Just as I had refused to leave her side when her mom got sick and passed away.
Let’s not forget that she was also by my side obsessing over the Jonas Brothers, Hannah Montana and, of course, every single Twilight movie release.
Sometimes, I swear Paige knows me better than I know myself, so she knew that this past week was simply one of those times that I had needed to be alone. I needed to process the shit storm that got me here. The fact that she helped me move into this condo and then left me to unpack is a shock of its own. Normally when I’m upset, she leaves me alone for a couple hours before showing up to try coping her way…which means going out to bars or clubs.
Only this time, things are different.
After double checking that the balcony door is locked, I head toward the sound of glasses clinking together. She firmly believes that every night out starts when you’re getting ready, which means pre-drinks are always required.
I resign myself to the fact that my week of solitude and sulking is officially over. After hitting shuffle on my post-breakup playlist, I head to the fridge to warm up some leftover chicken and rice for us. Everyone knows not to start drinking on an empty stomach and I’ll do anything possible to avoid having a hangover.
As “Thrive” by Cassadee Pope blasts through the Bluetooth speakers in the kitchen, I watch Paige pour more than one shot of tequila into a cup. There’s no doubt in my mind that she’s mixing that one for me.
“Seriously Lil, this place is fucking amaze-balls. I know how much you hate accepting help from your dad, and youknowI understand and support your reasons why, but shit babe. I’m kind of glad you did.” Even I can’t help the small smile that spreads across my face as I glance around my new condo, all courtesy of my father.
For as much as it pained me to dial his number and ask him for help, I’m starting to agree with Paige. The more time I spend down here, the more grateful I become that I pushed my stubbornness aside.
Although I could have done without the fight that broke out between my mom, brothers, and I. Which was simply because I was choosing to move to Florida, and would be close to my dad. After that fight, I decided it was for the best that they didn’t know I called my Dad for help. It wasn’t worth the headache.
The thought of everything that I’m keeping from my family is enough to wipe the smile off my face. Absent-mindedly, I rub my chest to help alleviate the tightness forming.
This is the first time in my life that my family only knows the bare minimum and half-truths. According to them, I broke up with my boyfriend, Cam, because we wanted different things, and that I moved for a new job.
Which, in my defense, Cam and Ididwant different things. I wanted someone who is committed to me and our relationship. Meanwhile, he wanted someone at home to have his dinner waiting for him while he is out sticking his dick inside anyone who will let him.
Plus, the bit about getting a new job isn’t exactly a lie either. I was hired by a publishing house, in a sense, as they are helpingme publish the book I’m writing. It’s not that I’m ashamed of the story I’m working on, hell, I felt nothing but pride when I sent my first ten chapters to my editor, Sam. There’s still a chance that my work doesn’t get published, so until I have something to show for it, they don’t need to know.
I can’t disappoint them if they don’t know about it yet.
