“I can stop now, and we can do whatever you want to, Amate.”
“We can after I finish my shaved ice.”
He nodded in agreement and pulled her onto his lap as the dominoes were washed for the next hand.
Eri pulled Elias onto the dance floor a couple of hours later as the deejay played one of her favorite slow songs. She draped her arms over his shoulders, and they swayed to the music. She wasn’t surprised by the few kisses her boyfriend stole as they danced.
“Have you and Mamma decided what you’re doing for your outing?” he asked as the first song blended into another.
“We have. We’re going to the spa, and then to lunch. She wants to check out this new art exhibit, which sounds really interesting, do some shopping, and then have dinner.”
“So, she’s kidnapping you for the entire day?”
Eri tilted her head, smiling at him. “Are you jealous?”
“A little, yeah,” he teased.
“If I promise to come over and stay the night with you once we’re done, would it make you feel better?”
He gave her a soft kiss. “It would mend my hurt feelings for being abandoned for the day, yes.”
Eri laughed, shaking her head. “You’re so dramatic.” When the song finished a minute later, she stepped out of his hold and said, “I’m going to the bathroom. I’ll be back.”
“You want me to go with you?”
“No, it’s okay. I’ll be fine.”
She walked inside the building and found the sign for the bathroom. When she walked in, there were a couple of women waiting. Once she’d gone and washed her hands, she exited the bathroom and headed back outside. She was fixing the bracelet she’d gotten for graduation from Elias when she bumped into someone.
The apology that had been on the tip of her tongue died on her lips when she looked up at the person in front of her. Her heart sank, and a hollow feeling settled in the pit of her stomach.
“Long time no see.”
“Not long enough, and you aren’t supposed to be near me.”
As part of his plea deal, a restraining order was to be put in place upon his release. She’d signed it retroactively, and it was to be filed a week before he was released and sent to her in the mail. They were also supposed to inform her of his release, which she hadn’t been. Unless they’d mailed her something, then she could admit it might have been sitting on her entry table. She went to step around him, but he blocked her way.
“What’s a piece of paper supposed to do?” he asked with a smirk.
Eri kept her breathing even. She would not allow this man — no, this monster — to think she feared him.
“You aren’t supposed to be released for another—”
“Two years,” he said, cutting her off, then tilted his head. “Didn’t you hear? I was a model inmate.”
No way they let this motherfucker out on good behavior,Eri thought.
She took a step back and turned her body as if preparing to go left, only to go right, and slip around him. She quickly scanned outside, found her boyfriend, who was already heading towards her, and started towards him.
“We weren’t finished talking,” came from behind her, but she ignored it and continued until he grabbed her arm, and she turned to look at him, panic rising in her chest. “Stop, or I’ll—”
Elias stepped between them and removed the other man’s hand from her arm as he said, “Back the hell up. That’s what you'll do.”
“Don’t waste your time. She’s a tease that’ll lead you on and give you absolutely nothing.”
Eri gritted her teeth because he was still living in the delusion that she’d led him on. Even worse was that he didn’t seem to think what he’d done was wrong. Elias reached back and placed his hand on her stomach, pushing her slightly, and Eri took two steps back on instinct.
She realized the pieces must have clicked for her boyfriend as he punched the other man in the face, and she released a noise of surprise.
