Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
“I’ll go get your drinks,” I said instead of responding to a thing he said, stomping toward the bar and placing their order.
I was tempted to give the table to one of the other waitresses, but something in the back of my mind told me that would be cowardly. He had no power over me anymore, and I was working to ensure he never would again. And the asshole didn’t even remember what he’d done to me, by the way he was acting, or he just didn’t think what he’d done was wrong. I couldn’t decide which was worse.
Either way, maybe this was the universe’s way of testing me. Testing my sobriety and my strength.
Well, joke’s on you, universe, because I’m so not relapsing because of this douchebag. Nice try though, but it’ll take more than that to break me.
The realization of that fact sank into my bones, filling me with a rush of confidence and strength. So much so, I took their drinks to them with a classic sugary-sweet-southern smile on my face, and barely looked back as I went to check on my other tables.
The night flew by, thankfully with Kent and his friends leaving after only two rounds of drinks and no more attempts to talk to me, thanks to my ignoring his every question. By the time I clocked out and said goodnight to Lyla—who stayed later than anyone to help clean and prep for the next day—I was exhausted but jittery in a way that I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep right away. It had been a long day, not just with work but with the session with Dr. Casson and somehow seeing Kent too. Like what were the fucking odds?
I gathered my things, typing out a fast text to Jim before I could stop myself.
Me: Just getting off work. Wired. Want to hang?
I bit my lip, hope fluttering in my chest. Hanging out with him after the day I had felt like the best way to put an end to it, even if all we did was watch Netflix and eat snacks. Actually, that sounded like the best way to end any day—
“There she is!” a familiar voice rang out as I walked out of Lyla’s, heading toward the back road where employees parked their cars. Everyone else had already gone home, so there shouldn’t be anyone hanging around this area, but there were four someones.
One in particular that made every bone in my body lock up.
“We were waiting for you!” Kent hurried toward me, clearly drunk.
Serving him drinks had been one thing, but seeing him out here waiting for me was another thing entirely.
My phone buzzed in my hand.
Jim: I picked up a night shift or I would. Sorry.
Me: Lyla’s. Hurry.
It was all I could text before Kent reached me, the smell of vodka coming off him so strong it turned my stomach.
“We’re going to a club,” he said. “And I want you to come.”
“No,” I said firmly, moving past him to get to my car. I had no idea if Jim would come, and honestly, I didn’t know if I needed him to, but instinct had made me send the text. If he was on a night shift, he could already be patrolling the streets, and the idea of having him here smoothed some of the fear scraping up my spine.
“Oh, come on,” Kent insisted, following me every step of the way to my car. He stopped me from opening the driver’s side door, his friends hanging out on the sidewalk next to my car, laughing. “We had some good times, right?”
I gaped up at him. “Move.”
“No, you should come out with us. It’ll be fun, I promise. I’ll buy you a drink.”
Every nerve in my body twisted, adrenaline making my body shake.
“I don’t drink,” I said, the words half-proud, half-determined. I tried to open my car door, but he wouldn’t move.
“More for us then,” he said. “Call up some of your friends. Maybe your sister? It’ll be like a reunion.”
I glared at him, but my instincts were screaming at me to run.
Okay, then.
I spun on my heels, heading around my car and back toward Lyla’s. She was still inside, I could stay with her until—
He grabbed my arm, tugging me backward. “Don’t go,” he said, his words slurred.
“Don’t touch me.” I jerked my arm away from him, my entire body revolting at the feel of his hand on my skin.
“Easy,” he said. “I’m just trying to convince you to come out with us.”
“I don’t want to!” I practically screamed the words. “Are you so dense that you can’t understand that?”
His friends hissed, and I saw the shift from amused to angry in an instant.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
I walked backward, not wanting to take my eyes off of him while I tried to get to the back door. I’d locked it behind me, but Lyla would hear me. She’d let me in.