Cillian leans in closer, his voice barely audible over the booming music. “Whoever he is, he’s an arsehole.”
“You can say that again,” I mutter, still annoyed at thewhole situation. I glimpse the pitiful look in Cillian’s eye and think about what he just said. “Oh, no!” I exclaim. “I haven’t been abandoned,” again, “or stood up.” Unlike my ex, who abandoned me in a nightclub in fucking Essex to go off and ride some randomer, I know Aiden is somewhere in the building, though that somewhere remains a mystery.
I’m going to kick his head in for this.
I’m usually in my pyjamas by 5 p.m.
Right now, I’ve got a short dress on that’s as tight as a second skin, and a lace thong that’s trying to fit into places it shouldn’t be, all in the name of trying to surprise that bastard. This is where making an effort gets me; I’d rather look homeless and be comfy than be out here, smelling like potent desperation.
Would it be bad form for me to dump Aiden via text right now? I feel this is a dumpable offence.
One of Cillian’s friends comes over, and I instantly cringe. He’s loud, he reeks of B.O, and I’m pretty sure he’s off his head. He tries to slide an arm around my waist, and I quickly step away, avoiding his touch. “Don’t touch me.”
“What have we got here?”
“Clearly someone who doesn’t know their limit.”
Cillian snorts into his bottle of Bud. “Go back to the table, yeah?” He motions for his friend to leave me alone.
Unfortunately, the idiot doesn’t get the hint. He tries to approach me again, but Cillian intervenes.
“Look,” I say to Cillian, ignoring the grabby arsehole to my left. “I’m going to,” I toss a thumb over my shoulder and turn to leave, only to feel a hand grab my arm, pulling me back. “I said don’t fucking touch me!” My hand flies instinctively, connecting with the idiot’s face. The force of the blow sendshim stumbling backward. “Arsehole!”
Fuck this, I’m going home.
As I walk away, I can hear Cillian shouting at the idiot for his inappropriate behaviour. A bouncer steps out in front of me and raises his hand, signalling for me to stop. “Out you go, love.”
“I was fucking leaving anyway, you prick!” Shoving past him, I get two steps ahead before I turn and glare at him. “Where were you two minutes ago when I was being assaulted? Useless piece of shit. Now you have the neck to tell me to get out while you leave him in here?”
He steps for me, grabbing my arm and pulling me towards the exit.
“Get the fuck off me!”
“As soon as you’re out that door, I’ll let go,” he says, his grip tightening.
I don’t know if it’s rage or panic; touch is a massive trigger for me, and his touch is sending me into a spiral. I claw, punch, and kick at him, desperate to break free from his grasp. “Get off—”
I’m just about to punch him square in the nose when he’s ripped from me. Aiden picks him up from the floor and throws him against the wall.
The bouncer stumbles to his feet, staggering right into Aiden’s fist. Blood splatters across the wall as the bouncer collapses, unconscious. Aiden’s eyes are wild with adrenaline as he turns to me, concern replacing his anger. “Bug,” he’s breathing heavily, suddenly right in front of me, checking me for any injuries. “Are you okay?”
Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as I nod. This has been both humiliating and triggering. “I fuckin’ told you I didn’twant to come here!” I spin for the door. I just want to go home.
“Where are you goin’?”
“Home!”
He grabs hold of my hips and pulls me back. “No, you’re not.”
“I am!”
His fingers close around my throat, pinning the back of my head to his chest. “No,” he all but snarls. “You’re not driving home when you’re like this.”
“AJ?” A voice comes from behind us.
Aiden releases his grip on my neck, turns, and tucks me under his arm protectively. “Escort this piece of shit from the building,” he tilts his chin to the body on the floor. “He can find another job elsewhere because he no longer has one here.”
I glance up to see another bouncer approaching us, his expression stern. Aiden’s grip tightens around me as he leads me back into the club. “It’s ok, bug. I’ve got you now.”
