Page 92 of Mind Pucked

“My, you are beautiful,” he purrs as he moves closer still.

“Thanks,” I say as I try to move away from him. “I’m going over there with my friends.”

“Wait a second—” He grabs my arm, but not forcefully. “Let me buy you a drink,” he says, but I immediately begin to shake my head. “Come on, just one drink. If after the one drink, you don’t want another or would like for me to leave, I will.”

“Fine,” I say with an eye roll, accepting the free alcohol mostly because I need it to dull my pain…and I know this might be the only real way to get rid of him.

I stand with my arms crossed, waiting for him to come back as he goes to the bar to get our drinks. Suddenly, staying at home seems like it would have been the better decision.

Trevor and I broke up shortly before Preston and Lyla’s car accident, and not for one moment have I thought about him—other than occasionally fearing I might run into him. Part of my decision to go abroad was because of him, and getting as far away from him as possible.

I look up to see him coming back in my direction. He has two of the largest drinks I’ve ever seen. Of course he’s brought me the amount of alcohol that might be in five regular drinks. I roll my eyes.

“Sit with me,” he says, more of a demand than anything.

“Don’t you know how to ask nicely for anything?” I wonder as I take the drink and find a table nearby.

“You know I’ve never been very nice.” He smiles at me as if that’s something he’s proud of.

“Believe me, I know.” I begin to take a sip of my drink, but then decide to chug half of it to calm my nerves.

“My, aren’t we thirsty?”

“I don’t know about you, but I sure as hell am,” I say before taking yet another drink.

Between the shots I’ve consumed, the beer I was nursing before this, and half of this ginormous drink, I’m already feeling a decent buzz.

I look around to find Brooke, making a point to know where she is at all times in case I need to make a quick escape.

A cheer comes from the doorway as a bunch of guys filter in. They’re all wearing Blue Jays jerseys. Obviously, it’s some sort of fan club. Most of them are carrying flags, while others have banners for the Stanley Cup.

I wonder where all the ladies are…but then again, most Blue Jays fans are guys.

I roll my eyes, thinking of Jackson. I’m happy for him and his team, but the pain I have inside is all-consuming. I don’t think there’s enough alcohol in the world to drown out my sorrow, though I know it’s all my fault.

Half ignoring Trevor, I guzzle the rest of my drink and set the glass down in front of him.

“Well, I agreed to have a drink with you, so now that mine is empty, I think I’m going to go dance with my friend,” I say.Truthfully, even if I do manage to stand up I’m not sure that I won’t be so dizzy I’ll be forced to sit back down.

“No,” Trevor says as he puts his hand on my thigh from under the table. “We’re having way too much fun.”

I try to brush his hand away. “Let go of me,” I say quietly, trying not to draw too much attention.

“I miss us,” he has the audacity to say, trailing his hand up further as if he owns me or something.

I grab his hand from under the table and give it a hard squeeze. He doesn’t so much as flinch. He’s obviously had too much to drink, and so have I. My already fuzzy body is starting to heat up, and I’m both angry and afraid.

“We were never a good thing, Trevor,” I say softly, putting my hand on his upper arm, like I used to when we were together.

Maybe if I can soothe him, he’ll back down. There were many times when I had to act this way in order to avoid getting hurt by his words or actions.

He looks at my hand on his bicep and smiles. “We were fucking awesome,” he says, squeezing my inner thigh hard.

I flinch, causing an even broader smile to cross his face. I have to think of a way out of this without drawing too much attention.

I stand to my feet, swaying from the effects of the alcohol. All the while, I’m fighting against his hold until eventually it falls. He looks at me expectantly as he gets to his own feet. Grabbing the crook of my elbow, he begins to pull me close. I fight against his hold, but he’s much stronger than I am.

“Maybe you should come home with me so I can remind you how good we can be together,” he says, tugging me toward the door.

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