Page 42 of Losing Control
“Uh huh.” Michael turns his attention back to Cal and regales him with a story of how he swept me off of my feet nearly a year ago.
A year? Already? Jesus, time really does fly.
“It was love at first sight for me,” Michael says, which gains my attention. I smile, but I feel anything but happy right now. I can see a slight glint in Michael’s eye which tells me that he isn’t pleased with how things are going. He doesn’t feel comfortable, and having to look like he is, is making this more frustrating for him.
“So, nearly a year, huh?” Cal says, sipping beer from his bottle.
“Yep,” I reply, a little too eagerly.
“What are you going to do to celebrate?” Cal asks.
“It’s a surprise,” Michael says before I have chance to.
“A surprise?” I ask, a little shocked that he has something in mind.
“Yeah. You don’t think that I would let our one-year anniversary go by without doing something special, do you?” Michael says as he leans closer and places a light kiss on my lips. I shake my head in response.
Wow. He hasn’t surprised me for a while. Maybe I am finally getting the old Michael back? The one that doesn’t mind meeting my friends, the one that makes me feel loved and safe. Me giving him a second chance seems to be working.
“You look after her,” Cal says, breaking mine and Michael’s gaze away from one another.
“I intend to,” Michael replies a little too defensively.
“This woman means the world to me, and I won’t stand by and let her be hurt again.” Time almost stops as Cal speaks his mind. I want to erase what he has said, I don’t want it to put Michael in a bad mood.
“I don’t plan on hurting her,” Michael retorts, and I can see that his jaw is clenched tight.
“Good, then we won’t have any problems,” Cal says with a forced smile on his face.
I want to ask him what the hell he is doing, but I know full well what this is. This is Cal reasserting himself in my life after being absent for so long. This is Cal making up for not being around when Tom shattered my world. This is Cal being the protective friend that he always has been. But what Cal doesn’t know, is that his words could provoke Michael. His words could be Michael’s undoing, but I pray like fuck that they aren’t.
Chapter Thirty
Punishment
The front door slams shut.
I run for the bedroom.
I don’t get too far ahead of Michael though.
As I go to crawl under the duvet, fingers curl around my ankle.
Panic rises.
Nausea takes hold.
Fight or flight.
“Please don’t,” I plead, my voice a whisper.
There is no reply.
I am dragged from the bed, my bum smacking onto the floor with a thud.
A pain shoots up my back, but I ignore it.
I need to stay alert.
