“Goes to show you can’t just ignore your problems and have them go away,” I muttered.
I turned slowly to see my psycho ex-fiancé marching toward me. His movements were jerky, his face was flushed, and his lips curled into a snarl.
Oh God.
“Be cool, be cool.” I eyed the stadium doors with longing, knowing there was no way I’d reach them even if I ran. That was what seeing Derek’s presence did to me—made me want to run like hell, because the crazy look in his eyes was terrifying. I didn't know what he’d do.
“Derek, what are you doing here?” I asked, already bracing myself… For what, I wasn’t sure.
He came closer. His energy was so menacing that I instinctively took a step back.
“You blew me off,” he said.
Guilty as charged. So, I had no idea what to say. Taking another step toward my car, I told him the truth. “Well, you showed up out of nowhere. I was uncomfortable. You really need to leave me alone, Derek. This is getting to be too much.”
“What’s too much is you ghosting me, only to pop up on blogs wrapped around some other guy.”
After deciding that we were beyond faking a relationship, I’d felt comfortable attending a function the other day as Lincoln’s date. I never imagined we’d make the blogs. I kept forgetting that he was famous now.
“Who I’m wrapped around is none of your business,” I snapped, temper on the rise. “You know what, Derek? I am so sick of your bullshit. Stop behaving like a deranged stalker and leave me the hell alone!”
His eyes narrowed. “You played me, and I’m the bad guy?”
He gawked at him. He was delusional. Once again, he tried to manipulate a situation to play the victim. “You played yourself.”
He kept inching closer. I had nowhere to go but my car. If I could somehow dash and get inside… I did calculations in my mind, and it didn’t work out. Still, I took another retreating step.
“I came all the way to LA to make amends, and you keep dodging me.”
I stopped. My naturally suspicious side that always had to find logical answers—the side Lincoln said made me a great journalist—stepped forward. “That’s the thing, Derek. I think it’s a load of crap that you came all the way here to makeamends. You’re too selfish to go to that length just to talk to me. You would have waited until I returned home.” I glared at him hard, as if I could somehow see through his bullshit. “How did you even know where I was? Because I know damn well no one who knows told you.” I had faith in my parents, Melody, and hell, even Allan.
Derek’s hesitation and failure to spit out a name made my suspicion mount.
“Did you just call me selfish?” he snarled.
I rolled my eyes.Thatwas all he got from this conversation?
Scoffing in disgust, I shook my head. “You know what? I’m done with this conversation and with you. I’m warning you, Derek. If I see you near me again, I will call the police.” With that, I wheeled around and marched the rest of the way to my car. Though I was still shaken and my heart pounded, I kept my back straight. Maybe my false confidence would make him back off.
I barely made it to the driver’s side when I felt a hand clamp down on my arm with bruising force. A scream escaped me immediately because it was as I’d feared for some time now—him getting physical. Derek spun me around and slammed me against the side of the car. The impact was jarring. It cut off my next shout for help. I gasped, stunned as I stared at him.
His face was inches from mine, twisted with fury. His eyes were wild and unhinged, as if something had snapped. “You think you can speak to me like that? Humiliate me? I’ll teach you?—”
Derek was suddenly ripped away from me. I stumbled forward, breaths ragged and knees weak. I turned to see who my savior was. Initially, I thought it was one of the security guys from inside, but it was Lincoln standing between me and my insane ex.
He turned to give me a quick assessment. “You okay?”
I nodded, even though I really wasn’t. I’d been scared shitless and still hadn’t recovered.
He turned back to Derek, who was staggering to his feet.
“Ava, who is this?” Lincoln asked.
“He’s—”
“I’m her fiancé, you prick!” Derek spat.
“Jesus Christ. You’re myex, you psycho! Let me go!” I wailed. My voice cracked, the exasperation of dealing with him for months taking effect. I’d reached my breaking point.
