“Oh, Kami, hey.”
Why? Why me?
I plaster on a fake smile.“Hey Mike, what’s up?”
“Just thought I’d go out with the guys since you were going out with the girls.” He pauses and looks around. “Where are the girls?”
Clearing my throat, I avoid all eye contact. “I was just heading that way, they’re waiting for me. I’ll see you later?” I attempt to go around Mike, but he blocks my exit, almost making me trip.
“Kami, come on. Let’s dance. You owe me at least that.” Heharshly pulls me into his chest and the smell of alcohol on his breath invades my nostrils.
A wave of nausea hits me as I start to panic.
“No, Mike, please. I don’t feel like dancing right now.” My feeble attempt at trying to push him away only makes him pull me in closer. He blocks my view and shoves me against the wall where nobody else is able to see us.
Now I feel like throwing up.
“It’s been too long. Just one dance, one kiss.” He grabs my ass, and I can feel his hardness on me.
Did he not hear me say no? My chest tightens as I start to panic.
“Mike, no, stop.” I’m about to try a self-defense move when he decides to get off me. Scratch that—he’s being pulled away from me.
“She said no,” Cameron’s voice booms over the music.
“She’s mine, dude. Back off!” Mike yells.
I’m shaking, staring at them with fear. My stomach is in knots, my mouth is dry, and I’m breathing heavily. A panic attack. Shit. It’s been so long since I’ve had one.
“Even if she was your girl, no means fucking no.”
My breathing exercises come easily, and I match them to the new song that plays.
“Leave. Now,” Cameron hisses.
“Make me, tough guy.” By the murderous look he’s giving Mike, I know shits about to go down, and they’ll both get arrested. Driscoll doesn’t stand for bar fights.
That snaps me back to reality real quick.
I step in between them and lay my hand on Cameron’s chest.
“He’s not worth it, Cam.” I turn to Mike. “Leave now, we’re done.”
He scoffs. “Whatever. You weren’t even that great of a lay anyways.”
Cameron growls behind me like a beast ready to pounce. Quickly, I grab his hand. “I need air, Cam, please.”
He looks at me and takes in my appearance. Suddenly, he picks me up and puts me into a fireman's hold. I let out a yelp of surprise because what the hell? Out of nowhere, he does something that’s very gentlemanly of him. He grabs a random person’s sweater and puts it over my butt, covering my ass.
The moment we’re outside, I expect him to put me down, but he keeps walking. Surprise has worn off, and I’m officially confused. I start yelling and slapping his back, telling him to put me down. I’m too heavy for this shit. When we reach the store fronts, he plants me on my feet and turns away from me.
“Cameron—”
“Fuck!” he yells so loudly it makes me jump. “Did you see his smug little face? What an asshole. How could you go out with a guy like that?”
That feels like a massive punch to the gut. I didn’t know Mike was such a dick and what happened wasn’t my fault. How dare he imply that.
Angry tears start to form behind my eyes, and I see the moment he realizes what he’s said.
