A

the house, my heart swelling with a

my fingers as I waited. The door swung open and I

eveled hair sticking out at odd angles. Shock flickered in his eyes the moment they f

vered, barely masking the panic as his

school, keeping in touch long enough to plan a date he never showed up for. When I ran into him afterward, he had

know why he suddenly became a

ed, releasing my necklace and for

g over me. "W...Well, I'm sorr

against it. "Please! It won't take long. You don'

the habit of going into

n, like he was scared som

you want?" Hi

ever showed up to our date

tion of what he might say.

not familiar with the conc

n mounted, his words stinging like icy needles.

? Why are you suddenly

r, please? Did something pr

ly sweet to me. But now, he spoke

your crazy boyfriend or whoever the h

was

e seemed to sway, an

I noticed the compression stocking on his leg. My stomach twisted into a knot, and

ds flying to my mouth. On

owed up and tortured me for even looking at you. Like that wasn't enough, he took my toe! My freaking toe! Then, he

, my legs wobbl

. It ca

d. "Now, get the hell off my property cause I

y face, and this time, I

e, the weight of the revelation m

own my cheeks as

thing deep in my guts told me it was the monster

*†*

with delight, and five out of the eight of us at the tab

ed in the face? Who dares punch a woman

cing. "Who else? My ex boyfriend!" She laughed

chebag? Let me know so I

Asshole is built like a brick wall. I

e had some bed compensation, cons

t the table and wished I could partake in it.

hday with dinner, treating our little group of office friends to a night out. The eight of us sat tucked int

forcing smiles and drinking when I had

oughts wandering back to the revelation from two days ago

unlike when we were kids, he wasn't mad when I visited to check up on him. Tho

dence, no solid leads, not even a sketch of the psycho who seemed to be haunting me. The number he'd used to te

ee who the asshole was as it h

. There hadn't been a single text, no taunting reply to the message I

n a car!" Benita announced,

m raised their g

e this den of sin immediately!" One of the boys

erupted in

en, as if on cue, they

didn't drink!"

ne who hadn't raised my glass. How could I have had

i. Which is why you're meant for me." One of the boys t

while I man

leared his throat. "Never have

eir glasses. At least, thi

thighs, a bitter taste

everyone at the table already did, I didn't know wh

the vibrating toy Veronica had gifted me-

, yet he's ruined my l

. The chatter at the table st

ali. Ar

now," I cut Bryan off, tr

greed to leave together?

ry." I softened my gaze as I turned to Misa. "Happy birthday, love. Do en

m them, I pulled out my p

abe. Ho

g tonight," I interrupted her, my steps fuele

oing on?" Veronica wa

illed with too many sexual activities, a

ot an

my tone biting. "Just that