Page 113 of In Your Wildest Dreams
“Get out of my way. I’m not doing this with you.” Blood roars in my ears and a lump lodges in my throat.
He grabs my forearm. “I could ruin him. You know that, right? One call and he’s gone.”
“Let me go, Gabe.”
His grip tightens. My bones feel like they’re going to crush under his hold.
“Or we could work something out.” His nose grazes my cheek. “Come back to my place and I can fuck you good while your boyfriend is away. Don’t tell me you don’t miss it. We were good together.”
“Not a chance in hell.” I shove at his chest.
He grabs my other arm with the same force, and I drop my coffee on the ground. He jumps back as it splashes at our feet, and I use the distraction to pull away from him.
“Fuck,” he mutters, glancing down at the mess.
I throw open the driver’s door and get inside with my heart racing and hit the locks. With one more glance at him glaring at me through the windshield, I pull away.
* * *
“Bridge, you have to tell him.” Ev brings me an ice pack for my arm. I hadn’t even planned on telling them about Gabe, but I was shaking so hard when I got home, it was obvious something was wrong.
Grace nods her agreement.
“No. It will just make things worse.” I know Ash. He’ll want to do something and that something could blow up his career.
“What if Gabe really does try to have him traded?”
“He won’t.” At least I hope not. “He just wants to intimidate me.”
“Have you considered going to the police?” Grace asks.
“So they can ask me a million invasive questions and then give him a slap on the wrist?” I shake my head. “No. I just need to stay away. I was stupid to go back to that coffee shop.”
“You’re allowed to go wherever you want, babe. Gabe doesn’t own this town.”
“It’s scary how far he’s willing to go to get you back,” Grace says, brows furrowed slightly.
“That’s the dumbest part. He doesn’t even want me. Not really.” Maybe he thinks he does, but you don’t treat someone like he did me and truly love them.
Grace stands and comes over to hug me. “I’m glad you’re safe. I have to go to class, but text me if you need anything.”
“Thanks. I’ll be okay.”
When she leaves, Everly comes over and sits next to me on the couch. She leans her head on my shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”
“I’m okay.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“This isn’t the first time Gabe hurt you, is it?”
My eyes sting and I squeeze them shut so I don’t cry. Nope. He gets no more tears from me. I shake my head. “No.”
“I want to murder him.” She wraps an arm around my middle. “I’m so sorry, babe.”
“He doesn’t get to win.” I swipe at a tear that falls. “I’m not going to let him get to Ash through me.”
