Chapter Thirteen
Lucy
I don’t know why I bothered to leave the house tonight. I knew this would happen. My head is well and truly up my arse at the minute. I am sleep deprived, mentally exhausted, and more than likely about to get my period. When some friends from school called to say that they had heard I was back in town, I felt obliged to say yes to a night out. I haven’t been on a proper night out in years, and it was just as shit as I remember.
I lasted all of three hours putting on a brave face for the crowd before enough was enough, and I called it a night. That’s what has led me to this, walking down a busy high street full of people shouting, laughing, and wobbling on ridiculously high heels. They all look so carefree. Living in the moment, enjoying their time together. Yet, here I am, the miserable one who wants to get home to a cup of tea, new pyjamas, and fresh bedding. Maybe I’m just an old soul at heart. I feel so lost in myself right now, not knowing what to do with myself, or even what could bring me joy.
“Lucy!” A masculine voice calls from behind.
Now, I may be a little drunk, but even I know that you don’t interact with strange men in the middle of the night. Especially when it sounds like they’re catcalling after you. That voice did sound familiar, though. But I blame that on the Tequila.
“Sugarplum,” the voice calls again, and this time he practically sings it. There is only one person around here who would call me by that name.
Max.
A jolt of excitement runs through me. My legs are stiffening, and my core is clenching. What the hell is wrong with me? He only said my name; I haven’t even seen him yet, and this is how I react. Just hearing the way it sounds on his lips does something to me, every single time. I turn slowly to face him. Trying not to give away my anticipation.
“Max,” I breathe out, fighting the smile that wants to break free.
Calm down, girl. You decided this fate. Deal with the consequences.
“What’s a beautiful girl like you doing in a place like this?” He smirks, his eyes hovering over every part of my body. “Are you here alone?” his brow scrunches.
“Er… I wasn’t. I was out with school friends, but I wasn’t feeling it tonight,” I reply glumly. Usually, I would have loved being out with my old friends, but that was six years ago, and now I can’t shake this anxious feeling. The need to get home became too much. I faked a headache and bolted out of there.
I don’t know if it was seeing most of them happy with their partners that tipped me over the edge, knowing that’s something I won’t ever truly have. Not when the one person I want is completely forbidden, and consequently, stood right in front of me. Oh, how fate likes to torment me.
“That makes two of us. How about I buy you a drink before you go?” He asks.
My head moves that fast to face him, I don’t know how I haven’t given myself whiplash. I am just so surprised. Me and him? Alone? In a bar? I don’t know if my heart could take it.
The words that leave my mouth are the opposite of what my brain is telling me to say. “Okay.”
I smile shyly up at him as he towers over me. It doesn’t take much with my tiny frame, but seeing how tall and broad he is does things to me. Pesky memories of the times we spent together in my college housing all those years ago race through my mind. How easily he could pick me up and place me wherever he wanted me... whenever he wanted me. Warmth travels up my cheeks at the dirty memories that plague my mind. I can’t think these things anymore.
“Come on, I know a place,” he says with a wide smile as he leads the way to a quieter street. He takes my hand in his like it’s the most natural thing in the world. My eyes close for a beat at the feel of his warm strength as I thread my fingers through his.
“I never took you for a murderer, but bringing a girl down a dark alley is a good way to start.” I joke.
He barks out a laugh in return. “I could think of better places than here if that was my plan.”
“Because that’s not creepy at all,” I shake my head, hiding the smile he always manages to bring out of me under the canopy of my hair.
“I am a creep. You know that.” Another wink.
God, that smile! The flutters aren’t just in my stomach anymore. They’re travelling to places that they definitely shouldn’t. Going for a drink with him is a very bad idea. But this is the lightest I have felt in a long time.
When we make it to the end, there is one single door with neon lights above that say ‘bar’. That’s it. No fancy name, no door staff. Just a half-arsed sign. Where the hell has he brought me? I turn to him and raise a brow as he pushes open the door. The moment we step inside, I suck in a breath. This is not at all what I expected.
The room is dark with a warm glow all around. It’s packed with people, but it’s strangely quiet for a weekend. You can actually hear yourself think in here, unlike most places I’ve been to tonight. Max finds us a booth at the other end of the bar, leaving me here whilst he gets our drinks ordered. I can’t help but watch his retreating figure. Unable to look away from his thick thighs and gorgeous arse. Fuck, that man is on a whole other level of sexy. If anyone can wear a suit well, Max can.
I need to stop. I’m just making it harder for myself by fawning all over him. Why does he need to be so damn likable? Couldn’t he have food in his teeth or a big, hairy spot on his nose, just anything that might put me off him? But who am I kidding? Even those things wouldn’t stop the attraction I feel. I’m drawn to him like a moth to a flame.
It's only when he walks back over that I realise he never asked me what I wanted to drink, but he clearly didn’t need to. He has a pint of my favourite fruity cider in one hand and a beer in the other. Ugh, even the little things like this send my heart in to a frenzy. He sets it down in front of me before sliding into the booth across from me.
“I hope I remembered right,” he says, motioning to my drink.
Smiling over at him, I pick it up and take a large sip, moaning softly at the taste. “Yes, you did. Hardly anywhere sells this anymore.”
