“You’ve only known him for a couple of hours. Of course, it’s hard. That can be scary.”
I met Jack’s eyes, some of my panic easing. “Yeah. He seems nice, though, right?”
“He seems really into you,” Jack said. He frowned down at my drink, which fizzed gently. “And he hasn’t made you flinchor have any of those expressions your boyfriend sometimes brings out.”
“Neil?” I asked, surprised. “He’s okay. He just—”
“Please don’t defend him to me.” Jack reached for my hand, cupping it with his. Tingles spread from my scalp down my neck from the simple touch. “It’s not about him tonight.”
“So you think I should go with Caleb?” I asked.
Jack’s jaw flexed, and he looked down at our hands. “I think you should do whatever you choose to do. Just know, it’s okay not to be ready to leave with him after one date. You don’t owe him anything.” He squeezed my hand before letting go. “It’s okay to wait until you don’t have any doubts about doing this.”
I nodded, watching him turn away. He turned back to leave the check for Caleb, then moved down the bar.
The band started playing again before Caleb got back. He sat on the barstool, signing the check and leaving a generous tip. Then he leaned close to my back, close enough for me to feel his warmth while I watched the band play and sipped my drink. He didn’t bring up leaving again.
I felt calmer by the time I finished the drink. The band was still playing, and there were still nerves, but I felt closer to leaving with him.
I turned to look at him, liking the crinkles near his eyes and his slightly too big nose, though it wasn’t as good as Jack’s. All the drinks had caught up with me, though. “I’ll be right back,” I said, slipping off the barstool and heading toward the restroom.
There were a few women waiting, but I finally got my turn. Afterward, I washed my hands, staring at myself in the mirror. I looked good. Pretty. I smiled at my reflection and headed out.
There was no longer a line in the hallway. It was empty except for Caleb. I stared at him in surprise. “You didn’t have to—”
He was on me before I had finished, his mouth covering my own. I hadn’t seen it coming, and my mouth was still open from trying to talk, letting his tongue sweep inside. My back hit the wall of the hallway, my hands trapped between us as he kissed me.
When he’d stroked my hand at the bar, his touch had been gentle. I’d liked it.
I didn’t like his kiss. It was hard and ferocious, making it difficult to breathe. His tongue felt like a snake in my mouth, thrusting as if it wanted to choke me.
I tried to push him away, but I could barely move. His body pressed against mine, pushing me into the wall. I made a pathetic sound in my throat, one too low for anyone to hear besides Caleb, though if he heard it, he didn’t do anything different.
I couldn’t breathe. Panic filled me as dots began to spread before my eyes.
He lifted his head, and I gasped for air.
“You’re a dirty girl, aren’t you?” His words rang in my ears. “Would you like me to fuck you right here, where anyone could walk back and see?”
“N—” His lips sealed mine before I could get the denial out. I should have screamed when I had the chance.
His hand moved to the front of my jeans, and I tried to shove him again, tried to wiggle so he couldn’t get to the zipper. I couldn’t hear it being pulled down, not over the music as the band played. Tears leaked out of my eyes, dripping down my face.
This wasn’t happening. Caleb hadn’t been like this. He’d been nice. I’d liked him. Someone else must be doing this, not the guy I was about to go home with.
I whimpered into his mouth, scared out of my mind as his hand tried to tug down my pants.
“Get your hands off her!” Sean shouted.
Caleb was ripped away from me, letting me breathe again. My legs had turned to jelly, and I slid down the wall to the floor. I wrapped my arms around my legs, pressing my chest into them.
Sean crouched down in front of me. “You’re okay, honey. I’ve got you.”
“She wanted it!” Caleb claimed from against the other wall.
Sean shot to his feet, punching Caleb in the face, followed by a punch to his stomach.
I whimpered again, watching it happen, seeing that it was Caleb who Sean hit. It made me face that the person who had done this to me really was the one I’d been about to go home with.
