“I’m done, Clint. No more dinners out. No more texts. No more phone calls. I don’t want to see or speak to you again.” She couldn’t make it clearer.
“Do you really think he’s changed his mind about you? He hasn’t. He just doesn’t want to share. Like I don’t want to share you with him.”
“What’s between Tate and me has nothing to do with you.”
“The hell it doesn’t. Because of him, you’re acting like this.” He waved his hand at her. Deep displeasure and annoyance filled his eyes and added lines around his frown. “Before, you and I had fun. We’d laugh and smile at each other and you’d kiss me like you meant it. We made love like we couldn’t get enough of each other.” He laid it on thick and painted a picture of a happy couple and a fulfilling relationship.
Yes, she’d been enamored by his charm and attention. She didn’t mind the make-out sessions. She could have done without the pouting and simmering anger when she denied him a sleepover. Eventually, she’d given in to her desires and slept with him. It had been a long time. She’d craved that closeness. And hoped it would make her feel closer to him. She thought it would strengthen their relationship. But he’d proven a selfish lover, leaving her unfulfilled and wanting more often than not. The other times, she’d had to make it happen for herself before he finished and promptly fell asleep.
Some guys just didn’t get it. Clint deluded himself into thinking he was the perfect boyfriend and lover. Well, she wanted someone who put her first and wasn’t satisfied until she was satisfied.
She didn’t delude herself into thinking that was Tate. She’d accepted he didn’t care for her in that way. Fine. But that didn’t mean she had to settle for Clint.
She didn’t like being alone. Who did? But having no boyfriend was far better than being scared and intimidated by Clint’s aggressive messages and threatening anger.
“Clint, I’m sorry, but I just don’t feel like you and I want the same things. Yes, we started off great, but—”
“Tate! He ruined it. He made you turn on me. Well, he can’t have you.” Clint rushed her, took her by the shoulders, hurting her sore one, leaned down, and smashed his lips to hers.
She dropped her bag, fought to get her hands between them, and pushed him away. The second she was free, she swiped the back of her hand across her mouth. “What the hell?”
He tried to pull her close again, but she struggled out of his hold and took several steps back. “Stop!”
He took a step closer.
She pointed a finger at him. “No! Another step and I scream bloody murder.”
“You’re being ridiculous.”
She spread her fingers and held her hand up to him. “I do not want you to touch me ever again.”
“Oh come on. You don’t mean that.”
“Yes. I do. Do not call me. Do not come to see me. We’re done.” She ran forward, grabbed her purse, rummaged for her keys, unlocked the car door, opened it, and rushed inside, slamming the door and locking it again. Her hands shook so badly, she scraped the key against the ignition several times before she pushed it into the slot.
She glanced over her shoulder to back out and found Clint standing dead center of her bumper glaring at her. “Move!”
“We aren’t over.”
“Move, or I’ll call the cops!” She didn’t have it in her to go another round about how this was over and done. For good. She didn’t care what he thought or said about it.
Clint’s mouth drew tight and his eyes narrowed. “I’ll see you soon.” He hesitated another second, then slowly stepped out of the way.
The second he was clear, she stomped on the gas pedal and backed out, braking only long enough to put the car in Drive and push the gas again. She sped out of the lot way faster than she should have, but her heart pounded in her chest so hard she couldn’t help but respond to the fear and get out of there as fast as possible.
She checked her rearview mirror and spotted Clint’s car about five cars behind her. She sped up and barely made it through a yellow light that turned red before she fully crossed the intersection.
Tears clogged her throat, but she choked them back. No way she shed another tear over that asshole.
She didn’t deserve to be treated this way. No one did.
She sucked in several deep breaths and let them out. Her heart slowed and she could breathe and think straight again. She let off the gas before a cop pulled her over. She didn’t see Clint on her tail but kept checking every couple minutes to be sure he hadn’t caught up to her again.
When she pulled into her carport she wished she had a garage with a door for added protection. Her hands shook when she shut off the engine and sat in the quiet for a minute with her forehead on the wheel.
“You’re okay, Liz. You’re home.” The pep talk didn’t really ease her mind, but she sat up, gathered her purse, keys, and phone, and got out of the car. She walked out of the parking area and around the corner of the building to the walkway. Still hyperaware of her surroundings, the sound of a car pulling up drew her attention. She peeked over her shoulder and spotted the back end of what looked like Clint’s car. She didn’t wait to see if it was him. She dashed down the path and up the stairs to her condo door.
She fumbled with her keys and stopped when she heard a deep voice coming from Ava’s condo followed by Ava’s laughter, then the man’s. The sound was so familiar, she turned and knocked on Ava’s door.
“Hey there,” Ava said by way of a greeting.
“I thought I heard—”
Ava stepped back and there was Tate sitting on the sofa with a beer in hand. Another sat on the table.
She backed up a step. “Sorry to interrupt.” She shoved the key in her lock, turned it, and went through the door, and pushed it to close the second she stepped in. But it didn’t slam like she wanted.
No. Tate shoved it open and walked right in. “Liz, what’s wrong?”
She kept her back to him and tossed her purse on the dining table. “Sorry I walked in on . . . whatever that was.” It was only a matter of time before Tate met Ava and got his flirt on like he did with every pretty girl he met.
She shouldn’t be surprised.
She shouldn’t feel hurt and rejected again.
“Ava asked if I wanted to wait at her place instead of sitting on the steps for you to come home. That’s all. I was waiting for you. I came to see you.”
Ava was a good friend and a kind person, which made Liz feel worse for thinking something was going on between them. Ava gave Tate a warm, but not flirty smile from her condo door across the short hall. “Nice to meet you, Tate.”
“Thanks for the update and the beer.”
Ava nodded. “I’ll leave the two of you to your evening.” She gave Liz a reassuring nod and closed her door.
Liz felt like a complete and utter fool. Humiliation burned her cheeks and made this day even worse.
Pity washed over Tate’s face, and she couldn’t stand it. “Just go. Leave me alone.” It was all too much. Hot tears fell down her cheeks.
Tate didn’t leave. He shut the door, walked right up to her, wrapped his arms around her, and held her close, his cheek pressed to her hair. “Sweetheart, I have no idea what is going on, but everything is going to be all right.”