I stepped away from the touch, biting back the snarky remark I wanted to make. "I'll get your drink."
"Aw, come on. Don't be like that." He reached for me again, fingers curling around my wrist. "Just trying to be friendly."
"And I'm just trying to do my job." I kept my voice level, professional. "Now if you'll excuse me?—"
"One drink with me. That's all I'm asking."
The anger I'd been swallowing down surged up my throat. "I said no," I snapped.
"Bitch." His grip tightened.
"Let go of me, asshole!" I yanked my arm back hard. My elbow collided with something, and I heard the crash before I registered what happened.
Jade's tray. Full of drinks. Now scattered across the floor in a puddle of glass and liquor.
Wonderful, just fucking wonderful.
"Shit," Jade muttered, stepping back from the mess.
The music seemed to dim. Conversations quieted. I felt eyes on me from every direction.
Including from above.
I looked up, unable to help myself. Leo, Grayson, and Sofia were all standing at the VIP railing, looking down at the commotion.
And Eric was right there with them.
His expression was masked, but I could see the slight furrow of his brow. Those dark eyes were focused entirely on me.
Good.
I shot him a look that I hoped conveyed everything I was feeling. The hurt. The betrayal. The rage.
Then I turned to Benny, the bartender. "I need some air."
"You good?"
"Yeah. Just... five minutes."
He nodded, already gesturing to one of the bouncers. "Take your time. We'll handle this."
I didn't wait to see what happened to the handsy asshole. Didn't care. I just needed out.
Needed to breathe.
The employees' door led to a back hallway that opened onto a small alley behind the club. The air was cold, biting against my flushed skin, but I welcomed it. Needed it.
I pressed my back against the brick wall and tilted my head up toward the sky. The stars were barely visible through the light pollution, just faint pinpricks struggling through the haze.
My hands were shaking.
A mix of rage at Eric, and frustration with the stupid handsy man. He'd been the tipping point, but Eric was the main reason.
Four years ago, Eric had left without explanation, and it had nearly broken me. I'd spent months waiting for him to come back or reach out, to tell me what happened, to give me something that made sense.
And when he finally showed up again, when he gave me those explanations and those promises, I'd let myself hope.
I'd let myself believe.
