Page 262 of The Heart You Kept

“I’ve been thinking about you, nonstop.”

“Pascal.”

“I’m sorry,” Thomas interrupts us. “Who are you?”

“Please excuse my rudeness. This is Pascal.”

“Her ex-boyfriend.” He cuts me off.

“Oh.” Thomas nods as he sips his drink. “Hi.”

“I really miss you,” he says as his eyes search mine. “I can’t sleep. I can’t eat….”

Thomas rolls his lips as he listens in.

“Pascal,” I say softly. “It’s not like that between us anymore.”

“I can’t accept it,” he says angrily as he grabs my hand in his. “I won’t.”

Thomas steps forward. “I think you should move along,” he tells him.

“And who the fuck are you?” he demands as I weave my fingers out of his. “Stay out of our way, we’ll get through this.”

“Ah, no you won’t, and I’m the guy who’s about to beat you to a pulp, that’s who.” He steps forward again. “Leave her alone.”

Edward walks back through the crowd. Edward sees Pascal and narrows his eyes and then without another word Pascal turns and practically runs away.

“That’s what I thought,” Thomas calls after him.

I watch Pascal cross the room with a deep sense of regret, it’s a terrible thing to break a heart, especially when I’m so happy.

THOMAS

I stand against the side wall as I watch him watch her.

Pascal, hiding in the shadows, hasn’t taken his eyes off Alora all night.

Something is off with this guy.

I turn in Alora’s direction to see what he’s watching. Edward has his hand around her waist and they are smiling as they talk. Edward leans down and kisses Alora and I turn back to Pascal, his face is stone cold and I get an off feeling.

This guy is a weirdo.

I walk over to Edward and Alora.

“Hey.”

“Hi.” Alora smiles.

Sinclair leans in to talk to her and I walk beside Edward and subtly lean in. “You need to watch Pascal.”

Edward frowns. “What do you mean?”

“He’s here.”

Edward’s eyes shoot up and scan the crowd. “Where?”

“He’s a fucking weirdo and he hasn’t taken his eyes off Alora in the last two hours.”