Nigel, noticeably avoiding Micah’s gaze, waits for a response. As if Micah’s was invalid.
Normally, I would say something along the lines of “sorry, we’re actually heading out now” or “maybe next time,” anything to make myself seem unbothered, but Micah’s strength feeds mine, pushing me to say what I really want.
“I would rather chew on a jean jacket than share a meal with you.”
Nigel balks at that. “Excuse me?”
“You’re disgusting. You’re a predator who has to rely on his status to force your way into women’s lives. Men like you don’t deserve to draw breath, so no, I don’t want to ‘grab dinner and catch up,’” I say in quotes. “I’m embarrassed to even be talking to you.”
His stunned expression shifts into a maniacal grin. “Wow. You’re serious. Danielle, if I hadn’t discovered you, you’d still be—”
I don’t give him the chance to finish. “I’d still be what? Does it make you proud to say you find women when they’re young and vulnerable and take advantage of them? Does that make you a man in your eyes?”
“I never took advantage of you. I gave you what you wanted.” When Nigel’s gaze wanders down my body, Micah clenches his jaw.
“You didn’t give me anything that I didn’t earn.”
He lets out a small chuckle.
“Men who get a ton of work done to still be a five should never laugh,” I add.
All the color drains from his face.
My fingers start to twitch and spots cloud the corners of my eyes. We have to wrap this up. Nigel will not win. I’m not sure he’s ever been in this position before. He’s used to being the one to make people—women in particular—cower before him. When he saw me, he thought he’d get aquick boost to his ego and disparage me. I hope he chokes on regret for approaching me today.
When he opens his mouth again, Micah speaks first. “Do you have anything else to say?” he asks me.
“No. I’m finished.”
Micah looks back at Nigel. “Then I suggest you walk away while that’s still an option.”
Nigel makes up some excuse to get as far away as possible.
I don’t turn to blatantly watch him, but I do keep him in my sights until I can’t anymore. Then, I fall apart.
The thumping of my heart is so loud in my ears, I’m sure my eardrums are about to burst. My trembling hands have given way to full-blown tremors. I try to grab my right hand to stop its shaking, but it only causes the shaking to spread through the rest of my body.
“Dani. Hey, hey, look at me.”
I hear Micah’s voice, but it sounds so far away, lost in the spinning void that is my head.
Deep breaths, Dani. Deep breaths.
That does nothing to ease the tremors.
You’re okay. You’re fine. Everything’s fine.
I keep repeating the mantra to myself, but my head keeps spinning. It’s getting so bad I have to close my eyes to keep from tipping over. My breath becomes shorter and shorter until I hear myself choking from somewhere outside of my body.
Micah keeps calling my name. At least, I think that’s what he’s saying, but his voice is faint and foggy.
“You’re okay. You’re fine. Everything’s fine. Everything’s fine. Everything’s fine.” Saying the words out loud doesn’t make this feeling subside. Maybe giving in would be the better option. Just let the sensation overtake me until it decides to spit me back out. I resolve to do just that when I feel my feet leave the ground. I register a hard surface pressed against my body.
“Dani. Listen to me, okay? Follow the sound of my voice. I need you to tell me five things you see around you. Okay? Just five things.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, and when I open them, I see we’re in a bathroom. Not a public bathroom—we’re in someone’s home.
I blink repeatedly until the features of the room start to get less blurry. “Sink. Shower. Mirror. Cabinet. Tile.”
