He lifted an eyebrow. This time it was his gaze that was challenging. “Does it really matter?”
They’d been here once before. He knew exactly how to make sure she didn’t have the wrong idea.
“I don’t know what you think you have to prove, but you don’t need to do this.” She moved away from the bar. “Stay and have your drink. We can talk about it.”
That was the last thing he wanted. He’d done all the talking he was going to do.
He grabbed the jacket he’d tossed on the chair when they’d walked in a few minutes ago and headed for the door. “Don’t wait up.”
The slam of the door behind him sounded final. Even to him.
Sixteen
Brittany forced her eyes closed so she wouldn’t stare at the clock as she lay in bed not sleeping in the mostly darkened room. It was after midnight, and John had been gone for hours.
She didn’t need to ask where. She knew exactly where he was going and what he planned to do when he said he was leaving. The only question was whether he would find anyone at the bar to pick up.
Which was a stupid question. Of course he would. He could probably draw numbers, there would be so many volunteers. Knowing his luck, he’d find twins again.
She never should have pushed him. She knew how much he didn’t like to be cornered about anything personal. As soon as she got too close, his first instinct was to do something to push her away.
Just like last time.
She tugged the duvet over her head and squeezed her eyes in frustration. Why did she care what time it was or what he was doing right now? She should be grateful that he’d reminded her of how much of a dog he was before she got too attached.
Well, he could drink himself into oblivion and never sleep another night for all she cared. The big jerk.
She refused to wait up for him. She had to go to sleep.
But her body wasn’t cooperating. Especially her pounding chest, her tight throat, and her burning eyes.
Damn him.
She hated herself right now almost as much as she hated him. How could she let him do this to her?
The red glow of the clock seemed to taunt her with each passing minute: 12:17. How long was she going to do this?
For another minute—that was when the door finally opened.
She held her breath, glad she was facing away from the door at that moment. She wasn’t sure what she would do if she had to look at him. She didn’t want to see him right now. If there was any sign of what he’d been doing, she might not be able to control herself.
She’d probably do something horrible like burst into tears, and she wouldn’t embarrass herself like that. He didn’t deserve half the tears she’d already wasted on him. She wasn’t even a crier!
She heard him go into the bathroom and pulled the covers over her head again, trying to calm the frantic pace of her heart. The toilet flushed. The sink turned on for him to wash his hands and brush his teeth. When it went off, she braced herself.
She heard footsteps as he crossed the room and the creak of the bed as his weight landed on the mattress.
A moment later she heard a deep sigh. It sounded enough like contentment to make her snap. All her good intentions flew right out the window.
She tore off the covers and jumped out of bed. “Get out of here. Find another place to sleep, because you sure as hell aren’t sleeping in the same room as me.”
For maybe the first time ever the fact that he wasn’twearing a shirt didn’t matter. He disgusted her right now. She didn’t even want to look in case there were marks on him. Had someone else been digging their fingertips into his arms and shoulders when he made them come?
Her stomach turned. God, she hated him right now.
John looked taken aback by the vehemence of her attack. She probably looked like a crazy woman looming over him, but she was beyond caring.
“Hey, take it easy,” he said. “There’s no reason to overreact.”
