Page 7 of A Second Chance At Forever

I wiggled beneath him. “I’m serious, I have to go.”

“I said, no!” He pulled away quickly and before I could process anything, he smacked me across the face. It hurt but surprised me more than anything.

My hand automatically flew to my cheek, that was numb, and I froze with my eyes locked on him. His already dark eyes seemed darker as his chest rose and fell with his heavy breathing.

Before I knew what was happening, Chris was up and stomping off to the bathroom. I laid there stunned, unable to move from shock. I couldn’t believe he smacked me. I felt the tears sting my eyes, not from pain but from the shock, embarrassment, and anger. I felt the anger swell up inside of me that’s what brought me back.

I jumped from the bed and put my clothes on quietly. I was afraid he would hear me trying to leave and come back. I didn’t know what he would do.

Will he say he’s sorry? Will he hit me again for trying to leave?

I made my way from the bedroom holding my jacket and shoes against my chest. I walked through the apartment quickly, checking behind me every few steps. When I reached the door, I opened it and practically ran to the elevator.

Inside the quiet elevator, I could hear my heart pounding in my ears. I tried to calm my breathing while sliding my shoes on with shaking hands. When the elevator opened, I ran from the building and hailed a cab.

I don’t remember much of the drive home; my head was elsewhere. The driver asked where I was headed and I mumbled off my address, still in a daze. He tried talking to me but I couldn’t hold a conversation. There were so many things going through my mind.

Once we arrived, I tossed him a hundred bucks and ran from the cab and into my building. I felt like everything would be fine as long as I could get inside my apartment where I could shut out the world.

Inside the comfort of my own apartment, I slammed the door shut behind me and slid down it, crying on the floor.

How could I let something like this happen? How could I be so stupid and get involved with someone like that?

He had never raised a hand to me in any negative way, but looking back, the signs were there.

He lost his temper when anything didn’t go his way. He didn’t scream or throw a fit but you could see the anger rise up in him. His face would turn red and his eyes, they held darkness I didn’t like to look at when he was mad.

My thoughts slowly drifted off to Mason as they always did when I’d had a bad day. I thought of our days together and wished he was there to hold me. He was always so patient and sweet. He always told me that he would wait for as long as he had to.

What if he’s still waiting? He couldn’t be, could he?

I pulled myself from the floor and wiped the tears from my cheeks. I grabbed my computer off the coffee table and threw myself back on the sofa.

I found him on social media and started looking at his wall. Most of his pictures were of the shop. Pictures of the boats he owned, the rental counter with Trent behind it, Joey in the store, sitting behind the counter like always.

Then, I found a picture of him and a girl. She had long dark hair and green eyes. He had his arm wrapped around her neck while she held on around his waist. She was beaming her best smile while he gave his cocky grin that I always loved. They looked happy.

Instantly, I felt jealous. It turned my stomach to see him happy with another girl. I closed the computer and shoved it away from me like the picture would jump from the screen. “I guess that answers that question.”

I decided to take another shower in an attempt to wash away the memory of my morning.

I stepped out of the shower and wiped the moisture away from the mirror. My skin was red from the hot water and all the scrubbing I did. I tried to wash every inch of me that Chis had touched.

I inspected my cheek, it was still red. I could see each individual finger mark he left on me. I forced my eyes away from the mirror, not wanting to see what I had turned into. It almost hurt to look at the reflection of myself. Once full of happiness and love, all that was left was anger, disappointment, and regret.

Just thinking over the situation made me want to reach for that special black label I had grown to love. I forced the thought away, it was only ten in the morning.

I headed toward my room to find some clothes. Looking through my dresser, I heard my phone beep. I picked up the phone knowing who’s name I’d see.

I had four missed calls and two text messages from Chis. I didn’t bother with his messages and called my assistant instead.

“About time you called,” Alissa said when she picked up the phone.

“Hey, sorry I just got home. What’s up?” I sat on the edge of my bed, still wrapped in my towel.

“Everything. Have you forgotten how close it is to the awards? You still have to pick out your dress and get it altered.”

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. “Oh, I’m sorry. I’ve just been busy with Chris and the engagement has thrown me off. Schedule it for whenever, you know my schedule better than I do.” I began picking at a thread on the towel as a distraction.

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