‘You got Apple Pay?’he asks, plucking it from my hand and leaning back in his chair.
I stare in shock as he orders himself two more beers, and my molars grind together when he flicks the screen in front of my face and a moment later, I hear the chime of the transaction processing as the Face ID registers.He places my phone down and slides it across to me.I manage to catch it before it careens off the table.
His eyes drop to my chest once more and he leans his forearms on the table.‘After these next drinks, wanna get out of here?’
My cheeks grow warm.‘We haven’t eaten yet.’
‘I’m not hungry.’
My brows draw together.‘But we ordered food?’
‘I didn’t order food.’
If I thought this date was going badly before, I don’t even know how to describe it now.I’ve never felt so uncomfortable in my life.
‘I’m going to go to the bathroom,’ I mutter, pushing my chair back so aggressively, it scrapes loudly against the cement floor and hits the chair behind me.
Sweat dots my forehead – a nervous response of mine – and I swerve around the table, hastily heading towards the bathroom.The female toilet is occupied, so I move towards the unisex one.
It’s loud here, with remixes of pop music blaring from the speakers, combined with the clinking of glasses behind the bar.It’s more of a bar than a restaurant, although bowls of chips and parmigianas are being served all around us, the smell of the food making my stomach grumble.Posters for student nights and live gigs are taped to the walls, and a few students I recognise from campus are huddled in groups around high tables.We’re right in the heart of the Campus Common Area.This is the only place on campus that’s open until the early hours of the morning.
I swing the bathroom door shut behind me and it hits something hard, springing back open.I turn, seeing … whatever his name is … follow me inside.I stumble back in surprise, almost tripping over my own feet.
‘What are you doing?’I exclaim.
‘Thought it might be nice to have some privacy.’
‘What?’I half-laugh, half-choke, incredulous.‘I’m going to the bathroom and I don’t feel comfortable with you following me in here.’
‘Oh come on,’ he rolls his eyes, running his tongue across his bottom lip.‘Wearing a top like that, and agreeing to come out on such short notice?You’re practically begging me to fuck you.’
My heart plummets to my stomach and my throat dries out completely as I gape at him, unable to process the audacity of this man.Just when I think things can’t get worse.
‘Please leave,’ I say curtly, raising my chin and forcing my gaze to meet his, hoping I appear a lot less scared than I am.I thought this guy was a bit of an ass, but probably harmless, though now I’m starting to think I could have gotten that wrong.Under the fluorescent lighting, he definitely looks much older than what the app said he was.
‘Or what?’He smiles, but it isn’t a nice smile.It’s cruel, and honestly, intimidating.
He approaches me quickly, pressing me back against the sink.I let out a cry of surprise, and he grips my arm tight enough to bruise.
Yanking my arm roughly from his, I somehow manage to push him off balance enough to swerve around him and practically fall out the door.
I slam straight into a hard chest and fly backwards.Two hands reach out and steady me, somehow stopping me from falling.My heart is racing as I meet a familiar pair of gorgeous emerald eyes.My eyes quickly roam his tanned, lightly freckled face and dirtyblond hair.Well, brown hair that’s been streaked with sunlight.He has nice hair.Dishevelled in a hot way.
‘Nora?’Zayden says, who more often than not has a just-rolledout-of-bed look while somehow also seeming like he could have just come from a magazine photoshoot.I’m immediately aware that his hands are still on my arms as he assesses me.My cheeks heat at the memory of the last time I saw him.‘Are you all right?’
‘You bitch!’a voice snarls from behind me as the door bangs open and Jim?Jeffrey?Jeremy?barges through the door.
Zayden straightens immediately, moving partly in front of me.
‘What’s going on here?’he asks, eyes darting between the two of us.Although I don’t know Zayden that well, having him here makes me feel safer than I did a few moments ago.
‘You know her?’my date asks with a huff, his upper lip curling.
‘I do,’ Zayden replies, voice cold as his jaw ticks.
‘She’s a fucking tease.’
‘I think it’s best if you leave.’
