Page 113 of The Longshot

“I’m so sorry I’m late!” A loud and immediately unmistakable voice darts both of our heads in the direction of the entryway as none other than Gary Wilkinson frantically rushes his way through the entrance, where he manages to bump into a caterer and knock everything to the ground.

The crash is loud enough to command everyone’s attention. My guy sure knows how to make a first impression.

“I’m so sorry!” Gary kneels down to pick up the assorted cutlery that’s spread across the floor before placing a hand on the server's shoulder. “Are you alright?” he asks the girl, who turns flush in the face as he helps her back onto her feet.

It’s an exchange that makes me wince, but even despite his irresistible charm, at this moment, Gary looks visibly disheveled.

His shirt is buttoned up wrong, his tie is loose around his neck, and I could’ve sworn his fly was undone. But even amidst the chaos, just the look of him is enough for me to find some inner strength to peel myself away from Simon’s grasp. Yet, I’m not quick enough. Gary has already found me in the crowd, eyes like lasers, as Simon reaches to pull me back in.

“Stop.” I reject his touch, stumbling back, but he pulls me in again. “Let me go. Get off of me!”

“Oi!” Gary shouts as he charges his way forward. His usually soft stare is now replaced with eyes full of fury—he’s mad. I don’t blame him. “Get your fucking hands off of my girl.” Gary pushes against Simon’s chest, prompting him to let me go and fall to the ground.

His impact forces the crowd to go silent as all eyes fall on Gary.

“You hear me, you piece of shit? Don’t you ever touch her again!”

“Gary!” I attempt to pull on his arm, but he’s too quick. In his rage, he’s already managed to sucker punch Simon repeatedly in the face as he kneels over either side of him.

Simon shows not an ounce of resistance when it comes to fighting back and is quick to land a few punches in return.

By now, the two of them have created enough space around them that those on the dancefloor have begun to squall in panic—myself included.

“Gary, please!” I’m hopeful he can hear me as I plead for him to stop. “No more! That’s enough!”

“Is that all you’ve got, mate?” Simon continues to taunt him, only making matters so much worse. “Maybe I wouldn’t have had to swoop in if you actually fucking showed up! You may have had your fun with her, but she was mine first?—”

Simon can hardly finish with his spiel, given that Gary has planted a clean shot directly into his face, where immediately, blood begins to splatter.

“Enough, you two!” Two people from the crowd take the liberty to hold them both back from one another, but it’s not enough to stop Gary from fighting it.

“Yours?” he shouts. “She’ll never be yours, you sick fuck! You hurt her! You fucking hurt her! How dare you even think you had the right to show up here? You’re scum. Absolute fucking scum!”

All eyes fall onto me this time as the room is silenced once more. This time, the set that stands out the most is my mum’s, who, somehow, has managed to push her way through the crowd.

“Chelsie?” The way she says my name is enough for me to know that she heard everything Gary had just outed on the dance floor. “Simon…” she stumbles. “He–he hurt you?”

“Yes, he fucking hurt her!” Gary answers for me, continuing to peel away from the firm grasp someone has placed him under. “For months, he hurt her! He should be in fucking prison for domestic violence, not dancing on the bloody dance floor!”

“Chelsie?” Next, it’s my dad who finds his way to my side—a paining sense of hurt in his eyes. “Is this true?”

Seeing my parents so distraught makes my heart feel like it’s about to be ripped out of my chest.

I was naïve to think that this secret would never come out, but hopeful enough that if it would, it wouldn’t be here. In front of everyone. Where they can see all the pain I’ve been unknowingly carrying—the burden that never should’ve been mine to begin with.

I’m so weak, but I’m even more tired of lying. I can no longer hold back, and as I look into Gary’s reassuring eyes that beg me to tell the truth, I nod. I nod ever so faintly that I worry my mum and dad won’t pick up on it, but somehow, they do. The gasp radiating between the two of them is enough to confirm it.

Picking up on the action, Simon finally speaks up, immediately attesting to the claims.

“Don’t listen to a damn thing either of them are saying!” He stands up, wiping the blood away from his bottom lip in protest. “He’s a fucking cheater.” He points over to Gary. “And she…” He turns his finger in my direction. “Is a Goddamn liar!”

“What the fuck did you just call me?” Gary’s about ready to swing again, but this time, Ruby joins the commotion and pulls his arm back.

He looks down at her in surprise but attempts to settle himself in her presence, that is until Simon walks over and stops inches away from his face.

“You heard what I said,” Simon says through clenched teeth. “You wanna call me scum? Well, where the hell have you been all night, huh? Probably getting your dick wet by some other girl. I know who you really are, Gary Wilkinson,” he seethes. “You’re nothing but a fucking man-whore. Guess that makes sense why you’re with Chelsie.”

“I’m gonna fucking kill you.” The man holding Gary back is useless this time as he lunges forward at Simon and clutches his hand around his neck.

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