Page 19 of Hard To Love

My eyes fluttered closed. “And why’s that?”

His hand dug into my hip bone. “Because I won’t be able to keep my hands off of you.”

My stomach clenched. “Then, don’t.”

His eyes darkened, causing every muscle in my body to tighten. What the hell was he doing to me?

Our moment was interrupted when Cassie and Jack returned to our table. It appeared that the time out with Cassie had calmed my frienddown, as he slid a drink over to Chase as a peace offering. Cassie sent me a reassuring nod to let me know that she had things under control.

Over the next hour, we knocked back a couple of rounds while my friends took the opportunity to share embarrassing stories about me. I was enjoying the back and forth banter at our table, picking up bits and pieces of different conversations. It surprised me to learn that Chase and Liam grew up together and were great friends until they left for college. Like many friends I knew, they ended up reconnecting when Liam moved back to the city. Even Jack seemed to be warming up to Chase, thanks to the fact that they were both die-hard Yankee fans. Knowing how important these friends were in my life, I was really enjoying the vibe at our table. The stories and the jokes kept coming until something caught Cassie’s attention. My eyes followed her line of sight landing directly on Brad.

By the time, he reached our table, his face was pulled tight in anger. My heart seemed to stop the second he stepped in front of me.

“Hello Emily. How have you been?”

Everyone’s attention immediately flipped back to me, as if they sensed the showdown that was about to unfold.

“I’m fine Brad. Thanks for asking.” I nervously ran my hand through my hair, trying to find a comfortable place to look, without having to meet his eyes.

The second Chase’s arm tightened around my waist, I knew things were about to go downhill faster than a bike without brakes. Without missing a beat, Chase extended his free hand towards Brad. “I’m Chase, Emily’s date tonight. And you are?”

This was going about as bad as I expected. Brad took another step towards us, slightly breaking into our personal space. He looked down at Chase’s hand, refusing to shake it. “I’m the Ex she just broke up with three weeks ago. Who the hell are you?”

Brad, under most circumstances was very calm and easy going. In the two years that we were together, I rarely saw him get frustrated or lose his temper. He always had the ability to remain calm in stressful situations. But as I looked into his eyes, there was a hardness in them that I had never seen before. And I didn’t like it at all.

“Brad, please don’t,” I pleaded, hoping to get through to him. My knees felt weak, like they wanted to give out at any second.

His head snapped to Chase, then back to me. “Don’t what?”

“Cause a scene.”

He placed his hands on his hips and stared me down. I’d never seen him this worked up before.

“You think I’m causing a scene?” His eyes sharpened, practically piercing me with their glare. “Maybe if you would have waited a little bit longer to move on, I wouldn’t be so fucking blindsided. What the hell Emily, three fucking weeks was all it took you, after two fucking years.”

The pain in his voice hit me loud and clear.

Chase pushed off the table. “Don’t talk to her like that.”

The cords in Brad’s neck were popping out as his face contorted in anger. My eyes blinked taking in the man in front of me. He looked like Brad, but everything else about him told me that this was a side to him that I had never seen before.

“I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but you don’t tell me what to do and you sure as shit don’t speak for her.”

Chase’s hands curled into fists as he advanced towards myex, knocking the bar stool over in the process.

“I’ll tell you exactly who I am. I’m the guy she went home with last night and the same guy she’ll be leaving with tonight.”

“Whoa!” said Jack, as he thankfully stepped in between the two men. Liam walked up and pulled back on Chase’s arm as Jack pressed his hands firmly against Brad’s expanding chest, pushing him backwards.

“Brad, dude, you need to calm the fuck down. You’re upset, I get it.” He said trying to get through to him. “Picking a fight isn’t going to do you any good.” He gently patted his chest. “You’re better than that, man.”

All I could do was stare at the train wreck in front of me, feeling my heart slam against my chest. Cassie walked up beside me, placing her hand on my forearm to calm me down. Of all the bars in Manhattan. I thought to myself. What are the freaking odds?

“I’m sorry you’re upset.” My panicked voice struggled to get the words out of my mouth. “But, we’re over, Brad. You need to find a way to accept that.” His usually bright brown eyes darkened into slits while he allowed my words to slowly sink in. I watched his anger turn into hurt.

“Accept that?” He shot back, “Three weeks ago, I was planning on putting a ring on your finger. And not even a month later, I find you out with someone else. Did our break-up not affect you at all?”

My eyes squeezed shut when the reality of the situation finally hit me. He had no idea of the pain and agony I’d put myself through. How much I’d struggled over mydecision. I wanted to scream at him, and lash out at his stupid accusations. It was insulting that he would even imply something so ridiculous. But I had no right. He was in pain and I had no one to blame but myself.

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