My jaw tightens, not needing to run any calculations in my head to know there is no way I can swing that. “Any chance you offer payment plans?”I ask meekly.
“We do,” she says with an air of reservation. “But the policy requires the balance paid in full prior to scheduling the injection.” She nods in the nurse’s direction. “Holly here can help get you set up.”
Nurse Holly picks her laptop back up from where she left it on the table. “Did you want to set it up today? It would require at least a fifty percent down payment.”
My cheeks flush with embarrassment. I only have enough for Remi’s injection today.
“No, that’s okay. I’ll call later this week,” I say in a rush.
She nods politely, offering me a kind smile, before Doctor Haven slides forward on her rolling stool, inching closer to the shiny stainless steel tray of instruments beside the table.
“Okay, Remi, are you ready to earn your sticker?”
I tighten my grip on my daughter right before all hell breaks loose.
6
RED FLAG?
BRIAR
Then…
“C’mon, Bri, just one drink.”
I grit my teeth at the nickname.Ben wastes no time sidling up to me the moment I’m alone.
He sighs audibly when I don’t answer him. Seeing as I’ve already politely declined his invitation for a drinktwicenow, I’d rather save my breath.
“It’s been weeks; aren’t you over whatever this is by now?”
“Whatever this is?” I give him a hard look. “It’s a breakup, Ben. There’s nothing to ‘get over.’ We’reover. There’s no getting back together. We were over the second you cheated on me with what’s-her-face.”
Ben’s face reddens. “I’ve told you a million times, Harmony and I are just friends!” Ben half whines, having the audacity to look irritated with me. It’s taking every ounce of self-control I possess not to slap him across the face. Maybe I should have taken him up on that offer to buy me a drink, seeing as my glass of vodka soda is empty…
“Last time I checked,friendsdon’t shove their tongues down otherfriend’sthroats.”
He blocks my attempt to shove past him, catching hold of my arm and wrenching me back against the bar top. I wince at the tightness of his grip.
“That never happened,” he growls.
I roll my eyes, so over this bullshit. Seriously? “There’s literally a photo of it happening!”
“Bri, I told you, I was so drunk that night. I don’t even remember it!” His hand releases me, flying up in his defense.
I want to scream. “That doesn’t make it okay!”
“C’mon, one drink? Just let me buy you one drink and we can talk.” His expression flips from anger back to manipulative sweetness. The back of his finger comes up to graze the bare skin of my abdomen before he grips my side, trying to pull me closer to him.
I reach down and rip his hand off my hip.
He responds by leaning in closer, using the same hand to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. My blood is boiling.
“Stop touching me!” I lean as far away from him as I can, the sharp edge of the bar top behind me digging into my spine. I feel a rush of panic when both his arms come down on either side of me, caging me in. He ignores me. His mouth finds my jawline, and there’s nowhere left to recoil to.
“C’mon, baby,” he breathes in between kisses, still thinking I’m going to change my mind. “I know you’ve missed me. I’ve missed you too.”
“Ben—” I bring up both of my hands preparing to shove him away from me, but he’s already—gone?
