Noah groaned and rested his forehead against the door. “So go meet her!” Then he slammed the door in my face.
“But Ava!” I yelled through the door. “Won’t she be bothered?”
“Hell if I know!”
“What’s up your arse, mate?”
A woman’s voice answered next. “He’s pissy because I was about to give him head.”
I grimaced. “Sorry, Elise. You were so quiet that I didn’t know you were in there.”
Elise laughed and yelled through the still-closed door. “Quiet by your request, Dom! Also, if you meet up with your ex-girlfriend, it will definitely piss off your current girlfriend.”
“Right. Thanks.”
Then my phone buzzed with another message from Lucy. Please, Dom. I need you.
Shit. Will was hurting her. I had to go. I’d explain it all to Ava when I saw her tonight. She’d understand.
***
I arrived at the coffee shop twenty minutes later and saw her through the window. I waited for my breath to catch like it did the first time I laid eyes on her. Lucy looked beautiful — her wild mane of glossy brown curls was flowing down her back, and she smiled at the barista, revealing the dimple in her left cheek— but the only thought in my head was about keeping her safe. I felt nothing more.
Had I finally gotten over her? The first woman to truly break my heart?
I walked through the door, and her eyes lit up, just like they used to when they spotted me. “Dom!” She waved me over with a smile. “It’s good to see you!” Lucy stood to give me a quick hug and slid back into her chair, not making eye contact. “I ordered you a tea. I’ve switched to coffee.” Her smile was guarded and very un-Lucy-like.
“Thanks.” I watched her tug her long gray sleeves down a bit lower on her wrists. “How are you?”
“Brilliant!” Her voice was too high.
“So, what brings you to Seattle?”
“Oh, Will won this huge national surfing competition, and there’s this really posh party in the city tonight.” Historically, Lucy was a hand-talker. She usually flailed those long, slender arms in the air as if her life depended on it, but now, she kept her palms planted firmly on the table. Was that something Will picked at her about?
My father used to tell my mum that her laugh was too loud. He blamed her “bloody irritating” laugh on several fits of rage. For years, my mum barely laughed at all, even when he wasn’t around.
I narrowed my eyes at my ex-girlfriend. I knew that look on her pretty face. It was the same one I’d seen my mother wear countless times. Rage boiled inside of me. That bastard was hurting her. I fucking knew it. “Lucy,” I caught her hand in mine and slid up her shirtsleeve to reveal a purple bruise on her delicate wrist. “Bloody hell!” I hissed.
Lucy tugged her arm away from me. “It’s nothin’!” She snapped. “It’s not what ya think!”
I glanced over my shoulder and noticed a small group of college-aged kids watching us. I leaned in closer so they wouldn’t overhear. “Lucy, he’s hurting you. I’ll kill him. I swear I’ll kill him.”
Lucy rolled her eyes and let out a fake laugh. “He’s not. At least not on purpose.” She whispered the next part with a little smirk. “It’s just rough sex.”
“That so?” I raised a single eyebrow at her. “Why’d you ask me here then?”
“Because I was in town and we fought the last time we talked! I didn’t want to leave things like that!”
“Lucy, you said you needed me.”
Lucy’s hand trembled, and she glanced over her shoulder and then at her phone. “This was a mistake.”
“Why are you trying to hide your wrists from me?” I fought not to raise my voice. I didn’t want to push, but Lucy seemed torn between denial and seeking real help.
“God!” Lucy groaned and covered her face with both hands. “Because I knew you’d overreact like this if you saw them!” She stood suddenly. “You know what? This was a bad idea. I’ve got to go.” Lucy flung her bag over her shoulder.
“Lucy, is he nearby? Does he know we’re meeting?”