way. It takes a kind-hearted man to recognize when he is the monster in someone else's story. The courage it takes to break his own heart to save someone else's proves that h

I had that kind of physical response to someone. Maybe never. There must be magnets under our skin, bringing us closer. "You and Chelsea would really get along." "Why that?" "She calls him an idiot." I pause to think. "Interesting view. But how the hell - and I mean this in the most respectful way possible - did a woman like you fall in love with a pussy like that? His laughter dies. She sits there looking dazed, which makes me feel like an idiot. "Sorry. That was out of line." "No, not at all. It occurred to me that I've never heard a man call another man a cunt before. It's strangely satisfying." "It's a very versatile word." We're staring at each other again. It's becoming a habit. I never want to stop. What the fuck is she doing to me? Because I'm so unstable, my words come out angrier than I intended. "So he cheated on you." "Oh my God ." "What?" "How do you know that?" She's visibly upset. The pulse in the side of her neck is throbbing. I want to press my lips against it. I want to bury my face in her hair. Instead, I look into her eyes and fight the desire that heats my entire body. "Just a guess." Her laugh is small and nervous. She runs a shaky hand through her hair and looks down at her lap. "It was good." We sit in silence for a moment as I watch her struggle to regain her composure. She's struggling with bad memories, something I know. Then, because I find her fascinating and want to know all her secrets, I say, "How did you find out?" "Her phone number. One day he left it on the counter by accident, open on this dating app. He was messaging all these different women. Asking for nudes. Organizing times to be together. I stupidly believed him when he said he was always on his cell phone because of work. "What kind of work did he do?" "He's a personal trainer." "Of course he is." "Don't look so disgusted." "It's not disgusting. It's contempt. I would like to find this fucking loser and see how loud he can scream. After a thoughtful silence, she says, "I can't decide if that's a warning sign or just a genuinely nice thing to say." "It's a red flag." "I'd like to think it's partly both." "It's not. I just threatened violence against a stranger and I meant it." "I know, but you did it out of