Page 4 of Vicious Little Darling

“I’m ready to go.” I breathe a sigh of relief as I make it back to the table, where Josh is keeping a close eye on me. I grab myjacket and slide into it, preparing myself for the chilly evening air.

“You want me to beat him up?” my best friend laughs, extending his arm for me to take. “He seems like the kind of guy who will try to add you on Facebook, later.”

“Ew, gross,” I giggle as Josh leads me toward the door. I leave my arm hooked into his as we exit, and I give myself a quick mental check. The creepy feeling has passed, and now I’m positive it was the guy waiting for me outside of the restrooms.

“We’re cutting your night out short,” I say as we head toward my apartment. “I feel bad.”

“Em, literallyeverynight, is a night out for me. I own a bar for fuck’s sake.” He gazes down at me, amusement in his eyes. “I was seriously hoping that you’d want to go to the movies or something. I get tired of the night life.”

“Maybe you should hire someone.”

“Maybeyoushould come to work for me,” he shoots back at me, his tone growing serious. “I could pay you better than Rich does.”

“I’m not a bartender,” I reason, my eyes dropping to my beat-up Converses. “And not to mention, your bar is way too upscale for me. I stand out like a sore thumb when I just show up to visit you.”

“That’s not true.” Josh shakes his head, his brawny biceps flexing against my arm.

I take in the handsome cut of his jaw, and nearly laugh. He wasn’t always handsome. When we met in our freshman year of college, he was scrawny and nerdy, and his glasses were nearly the same size as his face. He’s really grown into himself, with that perfectly chiseled body he’s worked hard to build, and while I’m proud of him, I get tired of my mom constantly asking why I’m notwithhim.

I just don’t see him like that.

Attraction isn’t a choice—you either feel it, or you don’t.

“You just deserve better,” Josh grunts from beside me when I don’t say anything further. “Starting with your drabby-ass apartment.”

I roll my eyes. “There’s nothing wrong with my apartment.”

“Your neighbor was stabbed to death last year. I’d say that, in and of itself, is probably a good indicator that you should move.”

I grow defensive. “That could happen anywhere, but seriously, Josh, I don’t want to fight about it. The moment we’re alone, you always start talking about me moving, working for you, or whatever. I’m tired of it. Ilikemy life, and I don’t want your charity.”

Josh drops my arm. “How the hell can you call it charity? After all the years we’ve been friends? It’s not charity, Em. It’s just me taking care of—”

“I don’twantyou to take care of me!” I explode, throwing my hands in the air. “I can take care of myself. Just like I don’tneedyou to walk me all the way back to my apartment. I manage by myself just fine.”

“God, you’re so fucking naïve sometimes,” Josh snaps, his face riddled with visible hurt. “You think that because your aura is off-putting that no one will fuck with you, but this city doesn’t give a shit about that.”

I let out a sharp breath, annoyed up to my fucking eyeballs. “I’ll walk myself home from here,” I say, stopping under the streetlight. There are still quite a few people out and about right now, and the creepy feeling has long passed.Good riddance.

Josh folds his arms across his chest. The two of us are almost in a standoff of sorts. “You’re so hardheaded, Em.”

“Yeah, and that’s why you love me,” I snort back, unable to hide a smile. “But still, I’ll walk myself home from here. I don’t need your protection.”

“Don’t do that,” he argues. “You don’t know who might be creeping around in wait for a woman just like you.”

I laugh. “Absolutelyno oneis looking for a womanjust like me.”

His face falls and his lips part as if he might say something else, but instead, he shakes his head. “Fine. Just text me when you get home then. Please.”

I give him a thumbs up. “You got it, bro.”

He frowns. “Don’t call me bro. But, seriously, I can pay you better, and get you out of this shithole if you’d just give me a chance.”

“Good night, Josh,” I snort, turning around and showing him my back. “Go find someone else to save.” He mutters something that I don’t understand, and I don’t bother to try and work it out. I get that he cares, but for once in my life, I just want someone to believe in me the way I am.

I glance back over my shoulder and see Josh still standing there, watching me as I walk away. He’s always been the type to ensure I make it home safe, and for the longest time, I never understood why. These days, he could rival the strength of just about anyone that might want to cause someone harm. He’s kind of like my guardian angel, albeit stubborn and annoying sometimes.

“Please be safe,” he calls out from behind me.

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