Page 27 of Eagle

I pulled her back in for another hug and the tears slowed and the sobs stopped shaking my body when there were several loud bangs on the door. We both squealed and dug our fingers into each other.

Several more loud bangs were followed by shouting. “It’sEagle. Open up. I saw your car outside.”

“Oh shit,” Jeannie said as I struggled to breathe. “What do you want me to do?”

Bang, bang, bang.“Open the door!” He was even louder that time.

Jeannie gripped my arms and gave me a little shake. “Lacy,” she whispered. “What should I do? I can’t just let him make a scene. My neighbors are decent but it’s late and he’s being obnoxious.”

Bang, bang, bang.Bang, bang, bang, bang.

I whispered back, “I guess open the door before he breaks it down.” He was banging so hard it seemed the door would fall off the hinges. “Just tell him you don’t know anything?” I said as more of a request than a demand.

Jeannie nodded with wide eyes and smoothed her ponytail as she stood and hustled to the door. I ran to the kitchen to hide but still be able to hear.

The door clicked open and I tried to manage my breaths to stay quiet, but my heart was racing and it was making me breathe like I ran a marathon. I was ducked down since there was a cutout over the sink that looked into the living room. I was having déjà vu of being a teen trying to hide being drunk from my parents when Jeannie’s voice went up two octaves and boots stomped inside.

“Well, if she’s not here, why you acting so nervous?” Eagle’s voice sounded edgy. Nothing like his normal happy-go-lucky demeanor.

“This is my home, not the clubhouse, Eagle,” Jeannie protested as I hid by the cabinets.

The heavy footsteps were getting closer to the kitchen door.After having lost track of how many beers I had, my brain was in toddler mode thinking if I just stayed still nobody could see me. Plus, I was petite. I could just tuck myself super close to the cabinets and practically be invisible.

My eyes were squeezed shut when the boots stopped and a loud gasp filled the kitchen. “What the fuck are you doing?”

I peeked with one eye, hoping he wasn’t talking to me. No such luck. Eagle stood at the end of the counter, head cocked, hands on his hips, glaring down at me. His hair was loose around his face, not tucked behind his ears. It reminded me of how it fell when he was fucking me. My damn pussy was a traitorous bitch who was suddenly acting like nothing was wrong and wanted to be filled up by this tall drink of water.

“Um, I dropped something and can’t find it.”

He took long strides toward me and grabbed my arm, pulling me to stand. “No, I mean what the fuck are you doinghere?”

Jeannie was standing in the kitchen door grimacing with her hands up, then mouthed, “I’m so sorry.”

“I was watching movies. What areyoudoing here?”

Still gripping my arm, he said, “Looking for you. What the fuck, Lacy? Why are you here? How long have you been here?” His brow was furrowed and his lips were a thin line. His dark eyes were wild and unwavering from mine.

“Why does it matter?” The question was simple enough, I thought, but apparently he didn’t like it.

His grip tightened. “Why does it matter? You fucking said we would talk.”

“No, I didn’t.” Did I?Goddammit why did I have to be drunk right now?

“Lacy, I told you I wanted to talk–”

“And I told you it was over.”

Suddenly he was down to my height, in my face squeezing both of my shoulders. “No you fucking didn’t. You said you were moving out of my room and that was it! I told you I wanted to talk.”

Jeannie grabbed his arm, trying to pull him off. “Let her go, Eagle. I’ll fucking call Hawk if you don’t stop your shit.”

He stopped, loosening his grip before finally dropping his hands to his sides. He licked his lips, his nostrils flaring and his face red. His jaw was grinding then he blew out a deep breath and tucked his hair behind his ears. “I’m sorry. I would never hurt you, Lacy. You know that.”

“You already did, Eagle! You already did!” I shouted. “That’s why I’m here. And what difference does it make? Just go. That’s what you’re good at.” I pushed past him and nearly knocked Jeannie down on my way out of the kitchen. I’d apologize once he was gone. I just needed to get to my room and lock the door. I couldn’t do this and didn’t want to look at him right now. I couldn’t control my emotions or my reactions in this state and I didn’t like it.

Alcohol really made you think you were quicker than you were because he was right behind me and grabbed my arm. “No. You’re the one wholiedand then fucking ran off without a goddamn word. I’ve been worried as fuck.”

I tried to jerk free but he was too strong. “Worried about what? You never worried about me before. I’m sure you can find a bunny to suck your dick since that’s all I was to you.” My face got hot and pressure was building behind my eyes.

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