"Sorry, man. I didn't know she had a boyfriend," the blonde guy Desmond's glaring at apologizes before turning on his heel and leaving. The way he walks away looks as though he's doing a walk of shame or something. I almost feel bad for him.
Almost.
A tug comes from my waist reminding me of the grip Desmond has on it. When I raise my head to look at him he's smiling down at me. I immediately get annoyed and try to push him away, but his grip is firm on me.
"He's gone now, you can stop acting the babe, idiot."
"Pleased to meet you too, Princess. You're still salty as ever," Desmond grins.
I roll my eyes and grab his finger—determined to twist it—but he grabs my arm before I can do it. "Desmond Lawrence you let go of my body right now or I'll kick your balls!"
"Oh look, she remembers my name," Desmond looks at Manon who's been curiously silent for a while now. Then again, she's never been one to get between mine and Desmond's fights even in high school so I ignore her. Setting myself free from this man is my priority right now.
"Let me go!"
"No can do. They'll start drooling and flocking you again the moment I do," Desmond retorts.
"And what's that to you. I don't need your help," I snap back.
"Are you sure? Cause it sure does look like you do…I mean, look around us and see how many eyes are on you."
I raise my head and sure enough, we have the attention of almost every boy group sitting around the couches surrounding the bar. To be honest, seeing them look in our direction makes me feel special somewhat, like I've still got it in me to turn heads my way if you know what I mean. But then again, I'm not in the mood for any shenanigans, especially with men whose dicks have probably fucked every woman in New York.
"Just trust me, yeah? I won't harm you. This is just so you can leave the bar in peace without any dogs barking your way," Desmond whispers in my ear.
Dare I say I shiver at the sound of his voice in my ear?
"Rich coming from a guy who's forcing himself on me," I hiss through gritted teeth, trying hard not to let my hot face stop me from glaring at him.
Something immediately shifts in his eyes. I don't know what it is, but he suddenly backs away and lets go of my waist; only to grab hold of my hand and intertwine our fingers instead.
"Is this better?" He smiles and I roll my eyes at him, letting him tug me towards the exit as Manon follows behind us.
So annoying.
It's been like this since high school. We were in different classes back then and I don't even know how he got to know me, but I do remember him using my friendship with Manon as an excuse to ruin my day. I hated him. A lot.
Not only did I have to suffer nagging at home, but he made sure to make my school days memorable in all the wrong ways with his stupid antics. Never mind his bad boy record—fights, drinking, being late all the time, and fucking around with girls in college; being associated with him guaranteed rumors about us flying around school both in high school and college—a flawless one-way pass to being isolated by schoolmates if you ask me.
The only person who ever hung out with me was Manon…and him of course. He never let a day pass without making sure he annoyed me: pranks, calling my name loudly at the assembly, bothering me in my sleep, or the library, you name it. And just when I'd gotten accustomed to being around him in college more than I wanted to acknowledge since he'd grown on me…he transferred schools.
Just like that.
Vanished without a trace or goodbye. Ghosted my lonely ass thanks to the rumors he brought about.
Now here he is eight years later acting as though we're old friends at a reunion party. Too bad for him I'm in a sour mood. I don't have the time for his stupidity, and I'm definitely not going to tolerate him stepping all over me like back then. I just fucked Briana and Noah up. I'm fiery today. We'll deal with the consequences later but for now, just for today, I choose to fight. For me.
We arrive at the dance floor and Desmond stops, tugging my hand and pulling me forward until my back is on his front. He gently places his palm on my belly and a shiver escapes my body again. I have to bite hard on my bottom lip to get hold of my senses.
You just got cheated on Leilani! Do you need another reminder of what men can do to your heart so soon?
"Sorry about this but if I want you to get out of here safely without being groped in the crowds then I'll have to shield you. Lean on me for support," Desmond speaks above the booming sound filling the club and I do as he says in an instant.
Hypocritical. I know. But I can't help myself when his voice sounds so calming amidst all this noise. Suddenly, I snap from my bubble of shitty bliss and turn my head to look behind us.
"What about Manon…" I pause when I spot her behind us. No wonder she's been silent all this time. Chester is here. Her college crush and Desmond's best friend.
Well, this just got interesting.
"She'll be fine," Desmond assures me. "Oh, and just so you know, we'll get squashed by the crowd a lot so bear with me if I rub on your ass a little. It's not intentional," he adds in my ear, and before I can respond, he's pushing us towards the dancing crowd.
Surely enough, hands and sweaty bodies start bumping on us the moment we push through the dancing crowd, and it doesn't help that the song changes the moment we step onto the dance floor. The crowd goes wild and the pressure immediately intensifies, and just as Desmond warned me, his front gets glued to my back when the people push on us, making me shiver a little. He doesn't stop moving though, placing his hands a few centimeters from my boobs and protecting them from being groped as he pushes past the people whilst making room for us to squeeze through.
Some drunk dude bumps into us from behind, making Desmond grind into my ass involuntarily. It's then that I feel his hard-on. Of course he's hard, he's a man damnit. But tell me why the fuck my body gets all hot and bothered when he does it again? Tell me why I don't feel like pushing him away but also want to at the same time? What am I, bipolar?
We finally reach the exit and the moment we're outside I detach myself from Desmond. He doesn't grab me like before which is good for him. I'd already planned to punch him in the face if he dared to even rub our skin together.
"You're safe now," comes Chester's cool voice from the exit as he gently lets go of Manon's back. He was covering her too but unlike me and Desmond, they look cute. Manon giggles at him, a pink blush on her cheeks as she thanks him and they both head our way.
"And where's my thank you?" Desmond mumbles leaning close to my ear, but I move away.
"You don't get to be thanked."
"Huh? But why? I saved your ass from getting groped didn't I?"
"Yeah, just so you can grope it yourself instead," I retort and Desmond chokes. Good. I finally get to see him embarrassed by my retorts. Damnit, why is this so nostalgic?
"Leilani Mayfield," Chester beams at me. I smile, accepting a hug from him.
"Chester Smith. Long time buddy."
"Tch. You two didn't even talk to each other back then," Desmond grumbles kicking the ground like a high schooler but I ignore him.
"It's been nice meeting you Chester but I've got to head back home now. My parents are probably waiting for me."
"You still live with them?" Desmond suddenly quips. I think I catch a hint of emotion in his voice but he quickly masks it with a fake cough.
"Hmm. Not that it should be of any concern to you," I retort pulling Manon into a hug. "I'll text you if anything goes wrong okay?"
"Can't you just stay at my place tonight? We both know that shitty stepmom of yours will chew you out the moment she sees you. You did hit Briana after all," Manon rubs my shoulder with her thumb soothingly.
My heart warms at her concern. I can feel the genuine love from her rubbing off on me, but I have to go back home tonight. Dragging this face off with my Dad's wife will only drain my peace of mind. Besides, sooner or later they might freeze my accounts and I won't have anything to support me financially. I mean, the reason why I can't be independent despite holding two Master's degrees is that she somehow managed to blacklist me in the business world and I can't get a job no matter how many times I've tried applying.
One finger snap from that evil woman could send my entire life into shambles and probably Manon's too if she finds out she's been supporting me. I can't have her dragged down with me now, can I?
"As much as I'd love to, I can't hun and you know it," I pull Manon into one last hug.
"Ugh! I hate your family."
"Me too girl. Me too…" I mumble into Manon's ear before breaking the hug. "See you later…or not. Depends on the punishment," I beam at her.
"Why don't you just do what she says and come with us?" Desmond finally breaks his silence. He and Chester were watching us in silence all this time.
I turn my head to look at him, not in the least surprised to see the pity in his eyes. He knows my situation. Has known ever since college when Amelia came to pick me and Briana up but decided I was too filthy for her new Mercedes and gave me taxi money instead. Desmond had followed after me with Manon to send me off when they witnessed it.
I sigh. That's all in the past now, and to be honest, he's no different from them. He left without notice, and I hate him for making my academic days a living hell. That's reason enough to cut him off.
"Goodbye, Manon. I'll text you," I wave at her before giving Desmond a rage-filled side eye as I pass by him, heading over to the car park, already dreading going back home.
It's going to be a long fucking night. I just know it.