Page 54 of Just A Date

I flex my fingers. I’m going to strangle him. I lunge forward, but he dodges behind the trash can. “You can kill me later, but you might want to catch her while you still can.”

He’s right. “I’ll be back for you.” I warn and sprint into the house. I don’t know where Juliet went. She’s not downstairs. I doubt she would go upstairs. I throw the front door open and run outside.

A pop of color catches my eye from about halfway down the block.

“Juliet!” I call, and race after her.

She speeds up.

“Juliet!” I try again to get her to stop.

She whirls, and her hand shoots out in front of her, welding the familiar can of pepper spray. “Don’t come any closer.”

The anger in her eyes is convincing enough to get me to slow.

I keep my arms plastered to my sides, even though they long to reach for her. “Juliet, please let me explain.”

Her hand trembles. “Don’t even think about blaming an invisible cat.”

Despite her anger, my lips twitch. But it only serves to tick her off.

She takes a step closer to me, pepper spray at the ready, and I stand strong. If she sprays me, I’ll take it like a man. I deserve it. “What would you like to explain? How you tricked me to get ahead in your job? How you used me just like my parents?”

“No.” I scratch my arm. I need her to know I’m nothing like her parents. But my actions as of late are far from convincing. “I wasn’t trying to take advantage of you, I swear.”

The anger falls from her face, and she staggers, looking almost haunted. “That was you.”

“Juliet, I never meant to hurt you.” I reach for her.

She shakes her head. “But you did. Just like you did the night we met in the bar.”

I drop my hands to my side. She figured it out.

“I know.” I sigh.

The streetlight above us flickers, casting a shadow across her face. “You knew this whole time?” She doesn’t give me time to answer. “Just another way you tricked me.”

“I didn’t trick you. I swear. I only wanted to get to know you better, but I was afraid you wouldn’t give me a chance.”

“You want fate? I’ll give you fate.” She stomps toward me, not stopping until the toe of her shoes hit mine. She tilts her chin up, her eyes flashing with anger. “That night we met, was the first time I gave up on love. Now I’m giving up again.”

“Juliet, please. I couldn’t care less about the bet.”

Her eyes narrow to slits. “Really? You’d give up the business then?”

My lips part, but I can’t find the right words. The business is all I’ve wanted forever. It’s been my plan. The only goal I’ve cared about for so long.

“That’s what I thought.” The pain in her eyes is too much to bear.

All of my years studying romance movies, and I still make such a stupid mistake.

A car turns onto the street, and the headlights wake me up from this nightmare.

“Please,” I plead with her. “I just want you.”And not just for some dumb bet.

She keeps her back to me until the car stops beside her, and she opens the door. “I didn’t need you that night, and I don’t need you now. I gave you five dates. Don’t ask for more.”

Her words slice through me, hollowing me out inside.

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