Page 78 of A Duet of Darkness and Dreams

“I’m not going home!” she yells, pushing me away. I lose my grip on her and she stumbles back against the counter. “These assholes are trying to keep me from doing my job.”

“Baby,” I say, approaching her like one would a frightened deer. “No one’s trying to keep you from doing your job . . . You don’t work here anymore.”

She scoffs. “What are you talking about?”

“You got fired. Remember?”

Her eyes seem to focus on me for a moment. Then I see the moment she understands the mess she’s made. The way everyoneis watching her and waiting for her to attack. “I . . . no. No, that’s not true, I—”

“Em, itistrue. Just let me take you home, okay?”

Tears fill her eyes as she looks around and takes in the terrified faces of what used to be her friends—her coworkers.

“Come on,” I say, edging toward her slowly. “Let’s go. I’ll put onThe Blue Lagoonand you can rest on the couch.”

She nods, tears running down her face. “I love that movie,” she whispers.

“I know.” She looks right at me as I reach for her hand, and for a moment I recognize the girl I met that first day in Sam’s garage. How did we get here? How did things get so bad so quickly? “Come on, Em, you’re scaring everyone.”

My hand touches hers, and it’s as if a light goes out. Her eyes squint and her face contorts in anger, her arms thrashing out at me and her nails scratching my arms and face. “No! Let go of me! Help!” she screams. “Someone help me!”

I try to subdue her, to protect myself while also trying to get her outside. I’m vaguely aware of Tyler shouting that the cops are pulling up. Emily’s hand slaps me across the face, her nails scraping my cheek.

“Help, he’s hurting me!”

In a flash, I’m being pinned to the ground. I grunt as a knee lands on my back, metal cuffs clicking into place against my skin. Emily cowers in the corner watching an officer haul me to my feet, and utter betrayal rips apart my heart.

“He has to control everything I do,” I hear her, but the sound is hollow, like I’m hearing it from somewhere under water. “He hits me. I’m scared to go home with him.”

“Wait! Officer, that’s not—” Tyler shouts over the commotion.

But the officer elbows me hard in the ribs so I double over. “Don’t worry, m’am. We’ll take care of him for you.”

“No, officer. You don’t understand—”

“Shut up!” he yells. “Whatever you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.”

A few of the other waitresses try to speak up, but this asshole isn’t listening.

“You kids with your violent music,” he spits as I’m dragged outside and shoved into the back of a police cruiser. “Think you’re so tough with your leather and chains.” He pushes me into the back of the car and stares at my face, where Emily’s scratch marks burn against my cheek.

“You fucking coward. Is that how you get your kicks? Beating the shit out of your girlfriend?”

I say nothing, knowing better than to talk without a lawyer, but it does nothing to stitch together the remnants of my heart. Like that shattered coffee cup, it’s scattered in jagged pieces across the floor.

CHAPTER 24

Dancing in the Dark

ISABELLA

All the worries I had about Christmas with Becks and the guys vanished hours ago. My heart swells at the way they all so effortlessly include me. Even Dave, making good on his promise that we can be just friends. Twenty-four hours ago, I was sure I’d be spending the holidays alone in my sad little apartment with a giant bowl of peppermint bark and telenovelas on in the background.

But we’ve laughed, played games, and talked for hours in the glow of the twinkling lights strung around the Christmas tree. All we need is some glittering snow to fall, but that’s wishful thinking for California. When Becks starts to yawn sometime after midnight, she and James quietly slip away, but not before she brings me a pillow and some blankets for the couch.

“Are you sure you don’t want one of our beds?” Joel asks. “I don’t mind sleeping out here. Maybe I’ll see Santa.” He chuckles.

“No, I’m happy to sleep on the couch. I can’t kick you out of your own beds on Christmas.”

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