Page 109 of Pretend
“Alessia, I’ve been calling and texting you. I’m not with Bailey anymore because I realize I fucked up.”
He’s quick to explain himself, as if he knows I don’t want to give him the opportunity to talk to me.
I snap my teeth, rubbing my forehead as I turn my back to him. I keep walking, and I’m almost to the ladies’ room. Does he really think I care about their status?
“Zeke told me what happened.”
I’m about to push open the women’s bathroom door, but I stop in my tracks when he finishes his sentence.
Did Zeke, your supposed friend, mention he asked me out on a date, too?
I don’t say it, I want to say it,but I don’t.
“Move on, Jack. I moved on…and so should you.” I give him a glimpse, turning my head slightly, and I almost fall over again.
Am I a lightweight now?
“Yeah, you moved on with that freak who wears a mask.” He throws out his insult with a pointed chin.
His hateful words spew out his mouth with so much resentment that it stings. His words are sharper than a knife. I’m upset with Daegan, practically broken by him, but I will never stand for bullying.
“D-don’t talk about him like that. He’s more of a man than you’ll ever be. You’ll never measure up to him.” Now he has my attention. I let go of the door and look at Jack. His hands are fisted, and he looks down at me with pressed lips and narrowed dark eyes that radiate hatred.
“Frankie won’t step foot at El Devine anymore,” he points swiftly to the bar behind him. “He had to have his entire jaw reconstructed, and he won’t tell anyone why.”
“I’m not sure how that’s a bad thing given the fact he always harassed me and others.” I spit back, trying to keep myself still and from swaying. Jack walks to me with veins bulging from his hands, like he’s angry.
“Why are you defending that blind freak?” Jack stalks toward me with aggression. “Was fucking him worth ruining your reputation and job? Getting sent home on your first deployment?”
I snap my mouth shut. I’m really never talking to Zeke again. How dare he share this information with him? I mean…I suppose after constantly rejecting him, he would see it as a way to hurt me back.
“What’re you doing here anyway? Drinking your problems away, huh?” He scoffs, satisfied. “You fell for him, didn’t you? Let me guess?” He has his handon his chin, sarcastically looking pensively. “He hasn’t called you since you found out? You really thought that fucker loved you? You really thought he was interested in more than just fucking you? He used you, Alessia. At least I loved you.”
I shake my head as my throat and eyes begin to burn.
“So you walk away from me?” Jack gets closer until he’s right in front of my face. “You walk away and end our years-long relationship because I’m such a piece of shit, right? Butyouend up fucking a married man?”
The lump in my throat comes back full force, and this time, the tears fall down my cheeks with humiliation fueling them. I keep my stunned gaze on his puffed-out chest over his yellow shirt as he spills my reality back onto my face.
“I’m a piece of shit for fucking Bailey, but what does that make him?” I don’t answer, but I stare at my ex-boyfriend this time. I look up at him, with tears still leaking out of my lashes, probably leaving trails of black from my mascara. I can’t answer. It’s too disgraceful. I flare my nostrils and sniffle as I suck in a breath, my chest tightening. Jack doesn’t like my returned silence, so he grabs my shoulders, shaking them as his fingers dig into my skin, “Huh? Answer me!” He roars with disgust. He has to be drunk. Jack has never put his hands on me before like this. But then I remember that one time before I tried to leave him when I caught him in the act.
“Jack, stop it! You’re hurting me!” I shriek, but for some reason, I can’t scream. It’s like my lungs and tongue won’t work with me. Why can’t I defend myself the way I want to? It’s like I’m being pulled away from my senses, and my hearing goes in and out.
“If I’m such a terrible person, what does that make him?!” He repeats his question as my body jolts back and forth, my curls bouncing, getting into my eyes and face as he moves me.
A tall, dark shadow swallows us, clouding Jack and me.
“It makes me your worst fucking nightmare.” A sinister, wicked, possessive tone interrupts Jack, and he stiffens for a split second as he tries to turn to the man slowly. His face reddens, and his eyes widen with fear, and I’m still as a statue.
I know that voice.
43
ALESSIA
A fast,strong punch knocks Jack to the floor, and he’s out cold, almost lifeless. Daegan stands there with menacing eyes. Even though it’s been weeks since I’ve seen him, I forget how massive this man is. He wears his full mask, his eyes colder than his heart, and the archangel tattoos on his sleeve light up when lightning strikes behind me through the glass doors.
“Damn, that was way over-fucking-due.” He snickers as he looks at Jack on the floor like he’s entertained and wants to keep fighting.
