Page 32 of An Uphill Battle

Our conversation tapers off once Magnolia switches on the blow dryer. She takes her time, smoothing my hair with an oversized round brush before using a big-barrel curling iron to set my hair in glamorous waves. “Please be careful when you put your makeup on,” she says quietly as I head for thedoor.

Once I’m home, I begin the process of putting on my face, starting with primer and working my way through the rest of it. By the time I’m finished, my face is contoured and highlighted like a pro, and my lips are painted with my most favorite shade of red,F-Bombby Urban Decay.I’m not typically one to toot my own horn, but I look damngood.

My candy-apple red dress hugs my curves in all the right spots, and my nude heels make my legs look at least a mile long. I look so hot that I’m almost positive that the cold outside won’t even botherme.

As I look at my reflection, I can’t help the sense of foreboding washing over me. This almost feels like déjà vu. Me, in a red dress, ready for Drake Collins. I can only pray this time around he doesn’t break my heart. I glance at the clock on my nightstand and realize I’m running late. Reallylate.

I dash down the stairs and miss the last step, nearly spraining my ankle, but I manage to make it to my car unscathed. I’m in such a rush to make it to Drake that I don’t realize my phone is sitting inside my clutch on my dresser athome.

“God, please let him still be there,” I repeat, again and again, all the way to Big O’s.By the time I make it, it’s almost an hour past when I said I’d be here. But, praise be, his truck’s still in thelot.

Now, I just have to hope he’s not toomad.

I make my way to the entrance, practicing my apology in my head the entire way. “Just tell him you lost track of time. He’ll understand,” I reassure myself as I adjust my dress before pulling open thedoor.

My eyes rapidly scan the room, searching him out. When they finally land on him, he’s seated at the bar, nestled between a brunette and a man old enough to be his daddy, peeling the label on his bottle of beer. I square my shoulders and make my way toward him, and he pivots in his seat, his eyes connecting with mineimmediately.

His stare is hard and unrelenting. I wobble a bit in my heels, but keep my pace and my course. I’m on a mission, and I’m not stopping until I’m at hisside.

By the time I make it across the bar to Drake, he’s turned completely on his stool to face me. I stop directly in front of him and revel in the way his eyes blaze a trail from one end of my body to the other. “Where were you?” he asks in way of agreeting.

“I’m so sorry, truly. I lost track oftime—”

He nods like he understands, but before either of us can open our mouths to speak another word, the brunette to his right swivels around and butts into ourconversation.

“How nice of you to finally show up.”Oh, God.That voice. Iknowthat voice, even though I haven’t heard it in years. I cut my eyes from Drake to the woman next to him. It’s Kelly. She’s here with him,and...

How could he do this? How could he bring her here, for this? Does he even care? Atall?

“I’m sorry, what?” I’m proud when my voice only trembles alittle.

She tilts her head, appraising me. “He’s been waiting on you for over an hour—you know that, right? Don’t worry though, hun. I kept him real goodcompany.”

Her words hit me like a physical blow, causing me to rock back on my heels. “Wait, what? Y’all are h–here t–together?”

Shaking his head, Drake moves to answer me, but Kelly beats him to it. “You leave a man like him unattended too long, and someone else is bound to swoop in. You get that, right?” Her saccharine smile doesn’t match her words, and my brain is having trouble processingeverything.

I stand there, slack-jawed and staring, my eyes pinging between them as a lethal mixture of anger, hurt, and confusion floods my bloodstream. Kelly wraps herself around Drake’s arm, causing his eyes to widen further. He opens his mouth to hopefully tell me theyaren’tthere together, but he clamps it back shut when he sees the look on myface.

Ignoring her, I focus all of my attention and anger on Drake. “Are you fucking serious?” My voice is hoarse and reflects every bit of pain coursing through me. “You all but begged me to hear you out, and my God, do I hear you loud andclear.”

“Let’s take this outside,” he tellsme.

“Let’s not. What the fuck do you think’s gonna change between outside and here? Do you think I’m gonna magically forget that I came here to talk to you, only to find you cozied up to the very source of our problems?” My voice is rising, right along with my temper, but I’d rather everyone in this bar hear my yell than for Kelly to see me cry. Fuck her and him. They deserve eachother.

“You don’t have a clue what you’re talking about, Azalea.” Drake stands from his stool and grips my arm roughly. “Outside, now. Not gonna askagain.”

“Better listen, little girl,” Kelly murmurs, and that’s when I loseit.

17

Drake

Iwatch,almost in slow-mo, as Azalea falls apart. Her eyes are wild and her lip is quivering. She’s a lit stick of dynamite, and I just fucking know she’s about toblow.

“Are. You. Kidding. Me?” she screeches, causing several heads to turn our way. “You are somethin’ else, Drake Collins. Somethin’ else entirely. You fooled me for so damn long with this act of yours, but I finally,finally,see your true colors, and thank fuckingGod.

“I came here ready to listen and to understand. I came here giving you the benefit of the doubt. I came here ready to give us a chance, and I find you here withher.” Azalea’s voice drips with disdain, and while a part of me wants to feel bad for her, that part is small and far outweighed by the part of me that’s raging at heraccusations.

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