Page 134 of Unhinged

“We’re out here talking, is all.” He looks me up and down and draws a deep breath. “Up close, you look even better. Now, I want to see what you feel like. My cock gets first dibs.” I’m going to be sick or commit murder.

I go for half-lies. “I’m married, asshole. If my husband shows up, he’ll kick your ass.” I hate volunteering Greg for something he’d never do. He’d probably yell at them, but I’m on my own.

Tanner and his friends all laugh at me this time. “Yeah, sure. Married. More excuses and lies.” Tanner reaches up and grabs my right tit. I shove him off me, but he comes back, and I push him again, which gives me enough room to swing my leg and knee him in the balls. All the years of playing soccer paid off. Wilderness would be proud.

He recoils, but enraged, he recovers and lunges for me. I turn to get past him, but struggling, he elbows me in the eye. The force knocks me off balance, and I fall against the railing and then to the ground. I double over in pain, mostly from my eye.

“What the hell is going on here?” I hear a familiar voice as I try to get up, but I’m stuck on all fours. “Simone?”

The dickheads take off, but Amos runs over to me. “Honey, are you okay?”

I nod, but seeing his face so full of concern and with my eye throbbing, I sob. Amos hugs me, and I shiver from nerves and the cold. He says, “Let’s go inside. What did they do to you?”

“He was teasing and wouldn’t let me leave. I ran into his elbow, and then I fell against the railing.”

“We need to call the police.”

“No. I’m okay. It was an accident.” I’m ashamed to admit to Amos how I put myself in this situation. I’m such an idiot.

“I don’t like this, Simone. Do you need to go to the hospital?

“No.”

He helps me stand, and we go into the bar, where people stare at me, holding my swelling eye. I avoid clutching my sore stomach because then it’d look worse than it is.

Harold asks, “What happened?”

Amos explains what he knows as he ushers me into the kitchen. The bright light hurts my eye. Amos pulls out an ice pack from the freezer and wraps it in a towel. “Hold this on your eye. I’ll get your things and take you home.”

I don’t argue. Amos then helps me remove my apron, put on my coat, and walks me out to his car, saying I don’t need to work tomorrow morning. Dr. Abramson will understand and still give me credit. That’s not the point.

I brush off my knees before getting into his Range Rover. The fall almost ruined my new jeans. I don’t need to walk around with holes in the knees, but when Greg did…holy Tostitos.

I miss Greg.

As Amos drives, I check my phone for messages. I see a string from Greg hours ago.

I feel so much better, but then again, I don’t.

Text me when you get done with work.

I wish I weren’t talking into a void.

I’m wearing my ELO shirt you slept in, not because it smells good, but because I owe them an apology for your ineptitude.

I wish I were working tonight. Ain’t that a kick in the nuts?

Only four hours to go...

I smile, despite my thumping eye.

Amos says, “If you need anything, I’ll be working most of the night at home. Maybe Greg can stay the night?”

I shake my head. “I’m okay. He doesn’t need to be involved with this.”

Amos sighs. “Simone, he’d want to be.”

“I don’t need him.” I have to get used to it.

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