Page 46 of Aftersome
“You all right?” James walked past me, giving me a once-over as he stopped at his locker. I had already tuned him out. Now, all I could think about was which one of these bastards was out with Doe.
“Where’s Davis at?” I announced on a growl. No one acknowledged me besides James.
“He left early for a dentist appointment.”
Good.
“Jenson?”
I was already suspicious of him after I tore his ass a new one for talking about her.
Maybe he decided not to listen to me…
“Sick, he has the flu.”
Fuck.
Who the hell was she with then?
Storming off in the direction of the doors, I heard a voice call out to me.
“Don’t do anything stupid, Mal,” James repeated.
I fucking wouldn’t.
At least, I didn’t think I would…
17
MAL
Jax Pub wasn’t too far from the stadium. A quick ten-minute drive and I was surrounded by buildings and thrust into crowds that were way out of my comfort level.
Luckily, I was too on edge and too frenzied to care.
I threw open the door of the pub and stormed inside, bypassing the groups of people waiting to be seated.
“Sir, you can’t just…” the hostess said, but I was too busy feeling charged up and scouring the tables for Doe.
Fuck, it was busy here.
Curious eyes peered up from their meals, while some of them even recognized me. I was greeted with nods and a few hungry glances from women that I had passed by, but all I could center on was where Doe was.
Did she already leave?
A sinking feeling in my gut had hit me, but as I made my way to the back, I heard laughter. A recognizable laughter that even in a crowded room I could pinpoint who it was. Soft, feminine, it hurt to hear.
So much so that my heart felt like it was being clobbered.
Over and over, until all I could feel was rage.
“Fuck…” I mumbled under my breath, rubbing at the ache I felt on my chest. I thought seeing her the other day was painful. But fuck, it was nothing compared to her laughter that I thought I’d never hear again.
I had always wondered if she lost the ability to find things funny again. To smile. Luckily, she was nothing like me.
And for that, I was grateful.
Though I was still fuming on the inside, part of me felt more relaxed that I had found her. That she was at least happy. But when I went toward the sound of her laughter, I was halted.
