By the time I made it to the restrooms, I was fighting tears. After throwing a look over my shoulder, I managed a deep breath.
He wasn’t following.
I pushed my way inside, horrified that I’d become so emotional. The women inside stared at me as if I was losing my mind. Maybe I was. When a girl came out of the handicapped stall, I rushed toward it, needing just a few minutes to myself. My God. I’d prided myself that was so much stronger than this and one look and poof, I lost my resolve.
Once safely locked behind a closed door, I tried to keep from laughing. I’d never figured my life would suddenly take such a raw turn.
Golden sat on her haunches, staring up at me as if her mommy was losing her mind. That had already occurred a long time before.
At least when I put my hand on her head this time, the feeling was grounding.
Three, maybe four minutes passed without a single interruption. Thank God for small favors.
But a noise drew my attention. Women outside sounded miffed. I braced myself for Kazimir to come busting into the bathroom. I was ready to launch into him if he did.
Seconds passed.
A full minute.
Then another group of even louder women descended on the bathroom.
Okay. He wasn’t trying to come get me. That was unexpected. I thought he was a man of action, taking what he wanted.
Another laugh popped to the surface. Well, I guess it was good to know I didn’t mean anything after all. Maybe he was doing nothing more than tying up loose ends.
I cracked the door, peering out like some kid.
He wasn’t there.
Wait. Was I honestly disappointed that he hadn’t barged into the women’s restroom like some barbarian?
Another laugh caused the women to glance in my direction. At least as usual, huge smiles broke out on their faces in seeing Golden Angel.
“Oh, what a cutie. Am I allowed to touch him?” When the girl asked, I nodded.
“This is Golden Angel.” My emotional support animal. My poor baby would get a complex because right now she wasn’t able to help with the anxiety, and I had a feeling she knew it.
“What a sweetie,” another woman said.
“You didn’t happen to notice if there was a huge man standing outside. About six foot five, muscles to die for. In a gorgeous deep charcoal suit and vivid purple tie? Dark, wavy hair and a beard you just long to run your fingers through?”
The girls looked at each other. “No, but if you’re not interested, I’ll take him.”
While we all laughed, I knew I couldn’t stay in the bathroom forever. With a single peek outside the door, I realized I was all alone. Wait a minute. He’d gone to all the trouble to break into my apartment, then find me here, only to give up that easily? Not a chance in hell.
What was he up to? The man didn’t take no for an answer and at this point, I wasn’t able to push him away effectively.
Not without causing a scene.
Another sign caught my attention.Sortie.
Exit in French.
The door leading to the outside and away from him. Hmm… If he wanted to play games with me, why not turn the tables?
I had no doubt he’d been inside my apartment, but with being there, I stood a much better chance of facing him my way. Not inside a club.
So I made the decision, glancing over my shoulder once again before nonchalantly slipping the Beretta into my hand. After a deep breath, I pressed my hand on the latch, guiding Golden outside.
