Page 93 of Holidating
That’s what snaps me out of my inaction—anger. This fuckerdoesn’t actually want me. He just wants to be terrifying. We’re standing so close together that I don’t have much room to move.
Still, it’s enough. I lift one foot off the ground and knee him between the legs.
It’s not a direct hit, but he still lets out a shout of surprise. “FUCK, Abbi. You fucking CUNT!”
I lift the other foot, preparing to try again, when I hear a crash in the doorway—the sound of a box of books being dropped too quickly onto a wood floor. “What the hell are you doing?”
Dalton. My God, I have never been so happy to see anyone in my life.
Price has already released me. “Nothing. Just fucking around.”
This is the moment when I should start yelling. I should let both of these men know how bad it really is, and how I’m not going to take it anymore.
Instead, I put both my hands around my throat and start shaking like a paint mixer at the hardware store. A sob escapes from my throat.
“Oh God. Abbi,” Dalton says in a hushed voice. “Oh God.”
I sink slowly to the floor. I’m fine now, right? How come I can’t even hold myself up?
“Hey guys!” Weston’s voice says from the doorway, and I lift my head from my hands, like a seedling toward the sun. “Whoa. What the fuck ishedoing here? Abbi?” Weston crosses the room in a flash, lowering himself to his knees in front of me. “Abbi, hey, what happened?”
I’m pulled against his chest in gentle arms, and I take my first real breath in ages.
“Get out,” Dalton barks, presumably to Price. “Get out of my sight.”
“Call the police,” Weston says. “Not joking.”
My apartment door slams, which is probably Price’s doing. And a moment later Dalton is also kneeling on the floor in front of me. I let out a terrified sob, and it echoes in the empty room.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Dalton pleads.
“Shetried,” Weston says through clenched teeth. “You brushed heroff.”
I look up at Dalton, whose mouth is opening and closing like a fish. “She said he pestered her, but I never…” His mouth flops around some more.
The thing is, I don’t know exactly what I said to Dalton. I don’t remember the precise words I used. “It was him or me,” I whisper, knowing that I’m not making a lot of sense right now.
“She thought you’d take your new wife’s side,” Weston says. “Can you really blame her? It’s not like she has a lot of family to spare.”
“Shit.” I don’t even know if I’ve ever heard Dalton curse before now. “Abbi, I’m sorry. You should have—” He swallows. “I should have asked you more questions.”
“Youknowhe’s a troll,” I bite out. “Can’t finish a sentence. Can’t hold down a job. So you justhiredhim after he got firedagain?” My voice is shaking.
Dalton groans, scrubbing his face. “You’re right. I don’t know what to do about him. I don’t have a damn clue. I was just trying to go easy on him for Lila.”
“He doesn’t need someone to go easy,” Weston growls. “But I guess you know that now. That asshole kept Abbi on the run from her onlyhome.”
“Jesus.” Dalton goes pale. “Abbi, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay now,” I croak. It’s not like I want to move back in. “But I refuse to be around him again. Not even on Thanksgiving.”
“Okay, okay.” Dalton sits heavily on the wood floor, looking uncomfortable in his suit pants and white shirt. “Can I take you two to dinner? I feel terrible.”
Ialmostsay yes. It’s on the tip of my tongue. But I don’t want to go out with Dalton. I want a night just with my boyfriend. “That’s a nice offer, but we have plans,” I say quietly. Because I’m finished being the girl who works too hard to stay in Dalton’s good graces.
I’ve got to stop being afraid to ask for what I need.
“All right,” he says heavily. “I’ll leave you two alone.” He glances around the room. “Is it pushy of me to ask if you have plans to get some furniture? You said no when Lila asked you if you wanted to look in the attic.”
