As I pulled to my street, an unpleasant surprise in the driveway sent my body into protective mode. The internal panic and the sincere hope that he was fast asleep and I could just sneak in was my only comfort.
You could call Shooter, you know he’ll be over here in a heartbeat.
I shook my head from the thought. I was still coming to terms with the idea that Shooter wanted me, before I took the next step to accept it. But I wasn’t ready to jump in, unlike him. He was infuriating, making me feel like things that have been locked up tighter than Fort Knox. I didn’t need him to be involved with my situation, at least not yet. Or so I told myself.
I played with my phone, thinking that I would send him a message, knowing that he would be quick to respond. The thought of him responding had my heart pounding in my chest. Fuck, I was starting to give into him, fall right into his arms.
And yet, he was someone that was willing and wanting to catch me. In more ways than one.
I crept to the front door, but before I could twist my key the door ripped open. My gut sank further into my body, my thoughts raced. Seeing him in the doorway should have sent me running. But I fought not to back down from him.
Alcohol filled my senses; he had been out and came home drunk off his ass.
“Can I help you?” I asked.
“Welcome home, wife,” he slurred. He stepped to the side, allowing space for me to move past him. I hated the way he said “wife” like I still belonged to him. As far as my signature on the paper, I wasn’t his. I rushed through the door, hearing the door slam behind me.
Something didn’t feel right, everything felt off.
“How was work, wife?” he taunted. He didn’t care about my work only that it paid for everything in his name. He wanted a fight.
“Sleep it off, Chris. Whatever happened to you, just sleep it off,” I said, rushing toward the back of the house, into the kitchen to grab some food. I prayed that he didn’t follow me, but I guess some prayers weren't answered.
It didn’t take long for me to realize that he was close by, watching my movement. It wasn’t the same as Shooter. Shooter watched with adoration and wonder. Chris watched to spark whatever his agenda was, whether it was to spew hatred or anger. Shooter’s stares made me blush, Chris’s stares made me feel disgusted and scared.
“I asked you a question.” He sneered.
“And I’m not answering.”
Just make it through the night. That’s all I had to do. Maybe he would just sleep it off and I could go somewhere for a few days until he cooled off. I had options, right?
That’s what I thought the entire time. I had to make it through the night. I fought the urge to use a sedative on him. I knew where I stashed them. No one needed to know, but I had help from the inside and it would only be used for emergencies.
I grabbed a cold water bottle, and as I turned I saw Chris in the bright kitchen lights. He looked rougher, the same amount of drunkenness, but his eyes were almost swollen. A swell of curiosity and smugness rushed over me. I bet someone knocked him out, probably for being a cocky bastard.
But with his one good eye, there was a sense of hurt and ambition, like he was ready to make a move but was waiting for the right moment.
“What happened to you?” I asked, almost regretting the words.
He scoffed, “Like you don’t already know.” He stalked around the kitchen island. “I bet you told them I’d be there. You just knew.”
I held back my chuckle. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Lying bitch.”
“I would need to know the truth before I could attempt to lie,” I snapped back, bracing myself for whatever would happen next.
He inched closer to me, but I wasn’t going to be near him. He was pissed off, and I knew all too well what would happen. Sweat dripped down my body. Chris just stared at me, full of disgust. The feelings were mutual.
“Because of you, I can’t go back. You did something, I know you did.”
“Hard to do something, if I have no idea what you’re talking about. I don’t have the energy tonight.”
“I lost it all.”
Rain started to pour down, pelting against the windows. Filling the silence between the predator and prey. I ignored him, only because he wasn’t worth the fight, nor did I have any idea what he was talking about. He was raging mad, delusional at best.
“You wouldn’t be sleeping with another man, would you? Opening your legs for someone else that’s not your husband.” He was egging me on, wanting to start something.
