“I didn’t mean it.” He grabs handfuls of his hair, looking panicked, as I scoot back along the kitchen floor.
“Leave, Sebastien. We’re over.” Scrambling to my feet, I snatch a kitchen knife. “Get the fuck out of my apartment.” I brandish the knife in front of him when he doesn’t budge. “I know how to use this, and I won’t hesitate to protect myself.”
“You don’t need protection from me.” He holds up his palms. “I won’t hurt you. I swear.”
“You already did!”
“That was an accident. I didn’t mean for it to happen. Please forgive me. I’m really sorry, Elisa. I feel awful. Please give me another chance. I know I’ve been a prick all night, but it was a onetime thing.”
All night? Try the past two weeks.
Sebastien is clearly psychotic, and I’m ashamed I fell for the ruse and didn’t see his true colors until now. “There are no more chances. I don’t want to date you any longer, and I don’t want you to come anywhere near me on campus. Leave now, or I’m calling for backup,” I say, swiping my purse.
“I fucked up,” he mutters.
“I won’t tell you again.” I pull my cell from my purse as I keep the knife pointed at him.
“I’m going. I’m going.” Defeat surges through his tone. “This isn’t how I saw the night ending.”
It wasn’t quite how I saw it ending either, but I definitely saw the writing on the wall of our relationship. “Goodbye, Sebastien.”
He mutters something I can’t hear as he walks out the door, and I dart forward, slamming it behind him and quickly locking it. My heart is pounding in my chest, and adrenaline is racing through my veins as I slump against the door and slide to the floor. I carefully set the knife down beside me as I raise a hand to my stinging cheek.
That bastard hit me! Mom would be so upset if she knew what went down here tonight, which is why I can never tell her. She has done so much to ensure I never get into a position where any man can hurt me, and I was a stupid fool who didn’t see the red flags. I was too hung up on my guilt over using him to realize the kind of man he is underneath that handsome, kind façade.
I’m shaking all over as I press the call button on my cell, hoping mysoldatobodyguard doesn’t hear my voice trembling when I ask him if Sebastien has left the building. Some stress seeps from my tense limbs when he confirms he’s gone. Explaining we have broken up, I ask him to ensure he doesn’t come near me again.
Ending the call, I feel a little better knowing I have protection. Sebastien spooked me that much. I inhale and exhale deeply, forcefully calming myself down as I prepare to call Gia. I know she’ll be worried after tonight, and I need to let her know I got home okay. I want to tell her what happened but not when she’s in a car with Joshua. He’ll only tell Caleb, and I don’t want Seb’s murder on my conscience.
He freaked me out. He physically hurt me. He tried to control me. All are justifiable reasons to hate him and want nothing more to do with him, but it doesn’t mean he deserves to die.
When I’m sufficiently calm, I call Gia. “I did it,” I blurt when she picks up.
“Thank fuck. How did he take it?”
“He wasn’t happy, but it’s done now, and he’s gone.”
“Are you okay? You sound a little off.”
Gigi has superhero-level powers of observation.
“I’m fine. Just relieved. I was a little on edge doing it. I’m so sorry you guys were forced into sitting through that tonight.”
“Like I said, you have no reason to apologize. He’s the jerk, not you.”
“I’m beat,” I lie. “I’m going to grab a shower and crawl into bed.”
“I’ll swing by for you at ten,” she reminds me.
“I’ll be ready.” I can’t wait to go home for Easter. This apartment feels tainted now.
After I hang up, I grab a hot shower, trying to scrub all memories of Sebastien’s touch from my flesh and my brain. When I’m dressed and my hair is blow-dried, I crawl into bed with my teddy, curl up in a ball, and attempt to push the horrible events of tonight from my mind.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Elisa
“Okay. That’s it.” Gia pulls over onto the shoulder and kills the engine. The leather squelches as she turns to face me. “I know something happened. ’Fess up, right now, Lise.”
