Page 18 of The Games We Play

“Well.” I clear my throat while switching my purse from one shoulder to the other, purposely hitting him with it on the side swing. “You of all people know how I respond to bullies.” I creep up onto my tippy toes and lean in close to him to whisper in his ear.

“I take the other guy home.” Leaning back to look at him once more, I give him a fake smile then squeeze between him and the door.

I can hear the frustrated breath he sucks in as I walk away and head toward my table.

My confused state has me in a completely different world by the time I sit back down.

I glance back to the hallway where the bathrooms are, but I don’t see him. My eyes search the restaurant, and nothing.

Maybe he actually listened.

And I’m confused, and pissed, that I feel disappointed by that.

I turn back to Jeremy and realize how uninvested I am, knowing I just need to call it a night.

“So, ready to go back to my place, babe?”

Ewww,babe. My nose scrunches at the nickname.

“Well, that’s very presumptuous of you.” My tone is friendly, but factual.

He shrugs. “I bought dinner, so how about you treat me to some dessert…in my bed.”

He wiggles his eyebrows.

Oh my God, this guy.

“Come on, it’ll be fun.” He reaches over, gripping my hand a little harder than he should, but I yank it back, accidentally hitting the wine glass between us. The deep red liquid splashes onto the table and a few drops splatter onto his shirt.

“You bitch!” He stands, throwing his hands out like I just threw a barrel of gasoline on him.

My jaw is slacked as I stare up at him, towering over me at the table.

It was just a little wine, and it was an accident.

“Sit down.” Seamus’ deep voice cannons through us both as he steps up to the table.

Jeremy eyes him up and down, confused. “Who the hell are you?”

Seamus glances down at me, an almost invisible smirk ticks on the corner of his lips, then he looks back over to my date.

“Dude…” Jeremy’s arm reaches out to push Seamus away. Seamus knocks it away then cups his hand along Jeremy’s collarbone, right where it meets his neck, and grips him hard.

Jeremy’s legs fall from underneath him and his ass plops down onto the chair.

“What the hell?” Jeremy appraises himself, like he’s unsure why his body did what it just did.

My jaw drops open as my eyes bounce between the two men.

“Let’s go.” Seamus holds his hand out toward me.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

I roll my eyes and open my purse. Grabbing a twenty dollar bill, I toss it on the table. I hate feeling like this man thinks Iowehim something. Twenty isn’t enough to cover my portion of the bill, but it’ll do for my conscience at least.

Plus, that’s like the universal,I’m definitely not into yousign, so hopefully Jeremy never calls me…ever again.

Standing, I tip up my chin, saying nothing as I turn to walk out of the restaurant.

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