“You look beautiful as always, babe. I’d hoped to see you here. I called you—”
“Why?” I asked coldly. I’d deleted him from my contacts. Too bad if he’d forgotten that I never answer unknown numbers.
No, I was no longer that foolish girl who believed in rainbows and fairytales. I’d had the rose-tinted glasses brutally ripped from my romantic outlook, where every love story ended with bells and hearts, exposing the idiot who trusted so blindly.
He sighed heavily, raking his fingers through his hair, eyes dark with regret. “You just disappeared. You didn’t even give me a chance to explain anything.”
“Explain what?” My hand clenched the strap of my tote, my legs shaking in my heels, hating that those old wounds would reopen now. We’d been together for a year, and I’d been in love with the cur!
I was just glad this place was packed, and none of the people here knew Craig or me, at least not to take pics and post them on stupid IG and wreck my life further.
Fighting for a semblance of calm, I glanced back at the players’ table and found them watching me. I knew Ila and Ray would be concerned, and maybe their guys, but when my gaze connected to a pair of narrowed dark blue ones, I shifted so I couldn’t seehim. Dead sure my friends must have enlightened the men as to who Craig was.
He sighed and moved closer to me as more people passed us. “Can we go somewhere quiet and talk?”
“I have nothing to say to you.” I stalked out of the bar, stepping into the warm evening air. I inhaled deeply, trying for a calming breath, the odor of exhaust fumes crowding my nose. Heat rose from the sidewalk, enclosing me in a sweaty hug.
“Charlotte, wait!” Dammit. He’d followed me outside. “About what happened the night you called me in Spain—”
“For god’s sake, Craig!” I snapped, pivoting to him. “It’s been over for two years. I’ve moved past it. Move on.” I whirled off. But he grasped my wrist, stopping my escape. “Give me a moment, please.”
“Let me go,” I hissed, backing away and knocking into someone behind me.
“Take your hand off her, or I will.”
At the terrifyingly cold voice, my heart pounded, and I wheeled around. My eyes widened.
War stood there, the moonlight highlighting the hard plane of his face etched in stone, not a shred of emotion revealed in his flat stare. Yet, I felt his anger, cold and deadly, surrounding me like a lariat.
Craig hurriedly dropped my wrist, eyeing War warily. While Craig was of average height and possessed a swimmer’s build, War stood much taller, his body wired with hardcore muscles.
No, Craig wouldn’t want his smooth looks rearranged.
“I meant no harm, Charlotte,” he said quickly. “You know that.”
“Do you want to talk to him?” War asked in that same cold, unemotional voice.
I shook my head, just wanting to get out of this nightmare.
“Charlotte, please. I—”
“You ready to leave?” War cut him off.
Trapped between a rock and a hard place, I chose the rock. The hard place was never to be repeated. “Goodbye, Craig.”
Did he think I was available for a quickie? Damn idiot. I was so done with asses like him.
I stalked off down the street. War remained at my side, easily keeping up with my stride. Some distance from the bar, I stopped and got out my cell. “I didn’t need help, but thank you,” I told him. “I’ll get a cab.”
“I’m taking you back.”
“No.”
“Charli—”
“Look.” I faced him. “It’s enough I have to weed your garden tomorrow, but I’ve had it with lying, cheating jerks!”
“I’ve never cheated on you.” His tone cool, he slid his hands into his pants pockets.
