Page 31 of Love Him Like Water

With my latte to keep me warm, I moved back outside, and headed in the direction of my favorite book shop, a little independent place that specialized in fantasy and science fiction. But, given the popularity of the genre, it had a giant selection of romantasy books.

I’d been too busy with packing up my life and preparing for my new one for a solid month before my wedding to hit up any stores, and I was excited to spend an hour or so browsing the new releases.

As I sipped my coffee and perused the new release section, it struck me that this was the first time I actually felt like myself since before I agreed to marry Renzo.

I knew my money would run out quickly if I overindulged, but I felt like I needed the creature comforts of books around me to fill the never-ending days consisting of nothing but confusion and longing and that ever-present, dull disappointment.

So I bought a new reusable bag. And I filled it all the way to the top before making my way out of the store, and heading back home.

I hated to admit this even to myself, but my gaze scanned the streets as I walked, hoping to lay eyes on Renzo.

Much like I had the first time I’d come to Brooklyn, some babysitting money heavy in my pocket, and intent on checking out the bookstore that my brothers kept promising they would bring me to, but kept being ‘too busy’ to actually do so.

So, with a knot in my belly the size of a baseball, a heartbeat hammering in my ears at doing something I knew was forbidden when I was always, always someone who played by the rules, I hopped on the subway, navigated a small panic attack during a transfer in an unfamiliar area, then hopped on the subway that would leave me just a few blocks from my destination.

I arrived frazzled, excited, and proud of myself.

At sixteen, I’d gotten my very first taste of independence.

I’d been on cloud nine as I exited the bookstore, my reusable bag from home heavy with my goodies I told myself I would lie to my father about, claiming I’d bought them at the local bookstore, even though I had a new reusable bag tucked in with my books for my new favorite store in the world.

I had my mind on a coffee to bring with me, since it was a long way back to Manhattan. And it was in sight, so I started in that direction.

Only, apparently, to gain the attention of a crew of men who’d been hanging out on the sidewalk.

I felt my spine stiffening as they moved in behind me, calling to me, making comments on my young body.

I knew I had to just keep walking, to make it inside of the coffee place, which would offer a small amount of protection.

The guys would go away eventually.

Then I could rush toward the subway, and head back home.

The flaw in my plan had been expecting the guys to disperse, and not to look harder before I exited the coffee place, my latte hot in my hand.

“There she is,” a voice called, making my stomach tighten when I was a few too many steps away from the door to turn back in again.

“Where you going in such a rush, baby?” another asked, his breath warm on my ear, making bile rise up my throat.

“Come on, don’t you want to talk to us?” another asked, and I felt his fingers teasing across the edges of my hair.

“We’ll make it worth your while,” one of the others said as I forced my feet to keep moving forward.

But then panicked at seeing a small alleyway ahead.

They were behind and around me, making it impossible to turn around, but moving forward would make that alley loom closer. And these guys could easily push me into the alley and do… whatever they wanted to me.

“She’ll make it worth our while,” another voice said.

“Yo!” a voice suddenly called, making me stiffen, terrified it was another man to follow and torment me. “The fuck you think you’re doing?” he added, making my gaze turn to find, well, a god of a man jogging across the street toward us.

He was tall and fit under his black tee and jeans, an expensive-looking cross on his chest, and a watch on his wrist that looked even more pricey.

With a family like mine, I knew a thing or two about designer men’s jewelry.

But it was his gorgeous face that had my heartbeat going from a panicked hammering to an interested thrumming.

Those sharp angles, those nearly black eyes, that tanned skin.

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