Page 42 of Breathing Without You

“Listen baby, I’m just trying to show you a good time,” he says into my ear way too close for my comfort. And I shiver in disgust.

“She said get the fuck off of her.” All of a sudden, I hear the familiar voice of my boyfriend behind me and I sigh in relief at him saving me again from yet another creepy man. Must be a thing for us I think to myself.

“Listen, all I’m trying to do is talk to the lady and she was rude and turned her back to me, she could’ve been nicer,” he slurs, his words barely making sense. Now this makes sense asto why he’s not taking no for an answer, I think he’s just had way too much to drink or maybe he’s drunk.

“I also told you I had a boyfriend, which that’s who this is, now back the fuck off of me now,” I yell, irritated that even with Creedence here he’s still not stopping or listening.

“Listen if you don’t back the fuck off, I have no problem making you back the fuck off my girlfriend and I’d rather not,” Creed says, pushing the guy away from me, which causes the guy to get pissed and swing at Creedence without him seeing, hitting him right in the lip, splitting it open a little.

“Fuck you, asshole.” And Creedence swings at him knocking the guy’s head back as blood pours from his nose. “She said she has a boyfriend, which that’s me and I shouldn’t have to tell you to leave her the fuck alone more than once. But now that you swung at me, asshole.” Creedence punches him and it hits him in the cheekbone splitting it open. “I get to kick your fucking ass.” And he swings again, hitting his eye this time. The asshole loses his balance and falls backwards onto the ground. I think he might be knocked out or in shock but he’s not saying anything.

“Fuck guys what happened?” Chase says running over from behind the bar.

“The fucker wouldn’t leave Emerald alone and I had to take care of it after the dick hit me in the mouth,” he yells to Chase as he shouts over the music.

“Alright man as long as it wasn’t something stupid,” he says, kicking the guy’s leg to see if he wakes up.

“Hey, Tony,” he yells to security that his mom hired last month after someone tried to rob them while she was working by herself.

“Yeah boss?” he says, coming over crossing his arms waiting for him to respond.

“Carry him out back, his dumb ass can wake up in the parking lot for all I care. We don’t tolerate fighting here,” Carsten says to him.

“Well damn, I was gonna say take him to the back room but that works too,” Chase says laughing.

“Hell no, I don’t fuck around especially when it comes to not taking no for an answer. I don’t want him in here,” Carsten says, shaking his head and walking over to Winter.

“Yes sir, I’ll take him out back right away,” Tony says as he picks the guy up over his shoulder and carries him behind the bar, down the hallway and out the back door.

“Thanks guys,” Creed says to them as he turns around and wraps his arms around me, pulling me close to him.

“No problem, man, you okay Em?” Chase asks as he walks back around the bar to grab a beer for a customer.

“Yeah, are you okay?” Carsten gives me a concerned look.

“I’m okay guys, really he didn’t do much besides wrap his arm around me.” I look back between Creedence and Carsten.

“I think you did more to him than he did to me,” I say laughing as I look over at Creedence.

“Well, I gotta protect you, Sugar, I told you I’ll always protect what’s mine, that’s twice here that I got to kick some guys ass for you, baby and I’d do it again if it meant I got to protect you from someone hurting you,” he says as he leans down, tipping my chin up with his fingers giving me a gentle kiss. Then he pulls away.

“I’m glad you’re okay Emerald.” He leans down resting his forehead against mine.

“Yes, I’m good. Thanks, babe, for protecting me.” I reach up to press my lips against his.

“Always, I’d do anything for you. I love you,” he whispers into my ear squeezing me into a tight hug.

“I love you, Creed,” I whisper back as I rest my head against his chest, squeezing him back.

“Y'all wanna do a shot?” Winter yells, breaking up the silence in our group. I’m thankful nothing more happened with that creep. I’d hate to think what would have happened if he was a little more drunk or if Creed hadn’t been there to stop him from doing more.

“Hell yeah!” I shout over the music, ready to get back into a good mood, we came here to have fun not let some dick ruin it.

“Let’s do some lemon drops this time.” Winter smirks over at me knowing that Carsten absolutely hates these shots.

“Fuck, I hate those shots babe.” Carsten shakes his head with a look of disgust on his face.

“I don’t get how you ladies love those damn things, they fucking taste like shit,” he laughs.

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