Page 43 of The Longshot

“Oh, Chelsie…” Simon guides his way back over to my side, caressing my cheek with a patronizing look in his eyes. “You know nothing. You see, Holly was more than agreeable to give me your mail when she found out that I had a particular video of her from last summer.”

My eyes widen.

My throat goes dry.

My stomach drops to my feet.

“You do remember what happened last summer, don’t you, Chelsie?”

I blink, and immediately, I’m transported back to the memory. Last summer, one of Simon’s mates hosted a party off-campus—he said it was the final hurrah of the term.

But what started as an innocent night full of fun took a turn fast. Everyone, myself included, got completely hammered, and needless to say, some made hasty decisions that they soon came to regret.

If I remember correctly, for Holly, that was deciding to strip down and skinny dip in front of a crowd of people. I tried to get her to come out. I even had towels on standby to cover her up when she did. But little did I know that someone had been recording—that someone being Simon.

“Besides…” His voice breaks me free from the memory—shrugging off his blackmail as if it’s nothing, which to him, it isn’t. It’s a pattern. “I thought that a hand delivery might be better. Don’t you agree, Chelsie? I mean, after all...” He leans in close, murmuring against my lips as his hands firmly tense around my waist. “We are due for a little reunion, aren’t we?”

I’m paralyzed in place as his lips attempt to make contact with mine, only I cower inwards, turning away so that his lips can no longer reach.

“No, Simon.” I attempt to take slow, hesitant steps backward, yet his hold on me remains strong. “You need to leave. You need to go.” I desperately try to remove his hands from around my waist. “I broke up with you, remember? We’re done. We’re over!”

I’m finally able to peel him away from me, stumbling backward into the display as I do, and for a moment, I’m naïve enough to believe that my demand will be enough to send him on his way.

It doesn’t.

Instead, when my mind finally instructs my legs to make a bee-line back into the kitchen, Simon charges his way back forward, clutches ahold of both of my wrists and aggressively pins me back against the display before slamming me into the glass.

“Broke up?” His hot breath burns into my cheek as he tightens his grasp. “Oh, my silly girl.” He’s so condescending it makes me sick as he places his forehead against mine. “We’re not broken up until I say we are. You got it?”

I say nothing, and it only provokes him that much more.

“Answer me when I’m talking to you!” He pulls me forward, only to slam me back once more. This time, the back of my head connects with the glass. Almost instantly, my ears start ringing, and my legs go limp.

In my dazed state, I’m left with no other choice than to fall into his arms, struggling to stand up straight. He sees this as an opportunity as he releases his grasp from my red wrists and wraps me into his embrace, steadying my frame.

“That’s it, darling.” He pulls me into a firm hug, holding me upright. “Come back with me, okay? Let’s just start over. Move on. Forget about all of this. I forgive you. Okay?”

In the midst of my disorientation, I find it in me to speak up. “Forgive me?” I repeat back to him. “You forgive me?

He jerks his head back in shock.

“I mean, yeah.” He furrows his brows. “You’ve put me through complete and total hell this past month.”

“I’ve put you through hell?” I grow more and more angered as each second passes by. “Really, Simon?” I forcefully push away from his chest. “Really?” I’m in utter disbelief. “You’re out of your mind. You know that?”

His eyes glare at me, but I don’t let up.

“Completely nuts to think that I’d ever give you another chance and crazy to think that I’d ever want to get back together with you!”

There’s an eeriness after I finish screaming at him. Now, all I can hear is my erratic breathing as I attempt to catch my breath, forced to watch as Simon’s eyes darken.

I gulp.

He’s changing.

He’s shifting.

“What did you just say to me?” I watch him clench his fists, craning his neck to the side.

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