“Whatever. You’re not my problem tonight.” She turns to the cooler, pulling out four beers and popping the tops off.
After handing me the bottles, she moves down the bar back to that guy who orders a couple of shots.
When she hands him the shots, he grabs her arm, pulling her down to him where he boldly reaches out to cop a feel as he whispers in her ear.
I don’t even think about what I’m doing. I drop the beers and lunge over the few chairs in between us. Knocking him to the ground I sit on his chest and pull my hand back, punching him square in the face.
Blood flows from his nose and he’s wrestling with me to get up, but I have a solid fifty pounds and six inches on him. He’s not going anywhere. I pull back, ready to make my second blow. But, I’m stopped when a hand grips around my wrist.
“He’s not fucking worth it, dude.” Murray’s voice breaks through. Then Juliette’s face appears in front of mine.
“Let’s go you fucking, hothead.” She grips me by the collar of my shirt and pulls me off him, toward her office.
God, she’s so fucking sexy when she’s mad.
She throws the door open, pushing me in. I stumble a bit, but catch my balance when I land on the makeshift bed-slash-couch.
“Mmm I knew you couldn’t resist this outfit. It’s your favorite.” I grin up at her with a sloppy smile as she spins in my vision.
“Oh my God! Is that what you think I’m doing?” She hits my shoulder. “You justpuncheda customer in my bar! There’s blood on my floor!”
Well, shit. When she puts it that way. I look down at my hand, splotches of blood cover my knuckles, and they’re already swelling. At least I think they’re swelling. I blink my eyes a few times trying to get them to focus.
“Are you fucking serious right now, Cal?” She stands staring down at me with her hands on her hips. “You think this is theway to show me that you love me? Getting drunker than a skunk and punching a guy?”
“He touched your boobs and eye fucked the shit out of you all damn night! What was I supposed to do? Let him?”
“I’m not yours, Cal. Remember? I left you!”
She’s so fucking sexy, even when she’s yelling at me. I stand, making the small space seem smaller. She’s so close and smells so good, I pull her flush against me, slamming my mouth down on hers. She stiffens, but I run my tongue along the seam of her lips. She opens for me, the minty taste on her tongue mixing with the bitter taste of the beer on mine.
Running my hand down her ass cheek, I pull her up to me, bringing both of us down on the bed so she’s straddling me.
But all of a sudden she pushes off me, jumping across the room.
“You need to leave. Now.” She points to the door. “Find Murray and go home.”
“I don’t want to go home without you, Jules.” I invade her space again, attempting to pull her to me once again. Only this time she stands unmoving.
“You probably should have thought about that a hundred times over the last few months.” She walks over, opening the door. “Go. Please.”
Tucking my tail, I follow her orders and walk out into the hallway straight into Murray. I fucking hate this. I want my wife, and it rips me apart that I’ve let things get here. My resolve to fix things is building stronger each second that I sober.
He looks at me, taking me in. “I knew this was a bad idea.”
“I gotta go home.” I stalk past him and right out the front door.
I really fucked up tonight. I had such high hopes and then I had to go and get fucking drunk. Setting myself twenty steps back with Juliette. I never even got one step ahead.
I’m fucking exhausted. After my anger caused me to toss and turn all night I need the biggest coffee Buckles and Brews has to offer; then make it a double.
I don’t know if I’m more angry with myself or with him. Letting him kiss me was a terrible decision. After the kiss, all I could think about was how I’m not enveloped by his scent of leather and sage in our sheets. Instead all I smell is stale beer.
Sticking to my boundaries last night was so fucking hard. And now I need my reward in the form of caffeine.
Somewhere around four in the morning I sent him a message. Hoping it kicks his ass in gear.
Me:>
