Page 14 of A Simple Reminder

All I can think about is how much I want her mouth on me instead of that damn lemon.

Those sinful lips wrapped around my–

Stop. I’m her boss. I’m her boss. I’m her boss.

“Cheers to growing friendships and questionable life choices!” Adeline says, her grin wide as she clinks her glass, adding her signature flair to the moment.

I let out a low chuckle, but the words hit harder than they should.Questionable life choices.Isn’t that what started this whole mess? One decision—a reckless, selfish moment—was all it took to shatter what Sophie and I had. The thought lingers like a bad taste in my mouth, but I force it down. Not here. Not now.

“Cheers to forgetting the past,” I say, raising my glass to hers before we drink.

My eyes stay locked on Sophie’s blue ones, the lights from the club flashing in soft bursts across her face. No matter how casual or second nature this moment feels, remember, it’s nothing more than borrowed time.

She blinks, and for a split second, something flickers across her face, but in this lighting, it’s impossible to pin down. Her lips part as if to speak, then close again, her gaze dropping briefly before meeting mine once more.

“To forgetting the past,” she echoes, her tone steady, casual. The words hang between us, heavy despite the noise around us. I can’t quite shake the feeling that, for just a moment, there was something more behind them.

A tall, burly man pushes his way through the crowd toward the bar, his eyes fixed on the bartender. He shoves another person aside with unnecessary force, sending them stumbling straight into Adeline just as she’s about to take her shot, spilling it everywhere. She stumbles forward, nearly colliding into Sophie.

“Hey, watch it!” Adeline shouts.

The man turns to her, leaning down, his face uncomfortably close to hers. “She’s got it,” he sneers.

Before Adeline can respond, I’m already stepping forward. “You need to back off.”

“Mind your business,” he snaps, his tone dripping with hostility.

That’s when I see it—his face, his build, his clothes. It’s him. The man from the video. The one who touched Sophie. My veins throb, my fists balling instinctively as I struggle to keep my cool.

“You don’t talk to her like that,” I say through gritted teeth, my voice low and sharp. Every muscle in my body tightens, ready for a fight I know I shouldn’t start, but damn it, the rage is already bubbling over.

He laughs mockingly, his face twisting into something even uglier. “Or what?”

I see red.

Before I even register what I’m doing, I lunge at him, my fist connecting with his cheek in one swift motion. The impact jolts up my arm, and he staggers back, caught completely off guard. Every ounce of pent-up anger, frustration, and years of regret surges through me, demanding release in this one reckless moment.

“You son of a bitch,” he shouts, clutching the side of his face. With surprising agility, he swings back at me, and his fist connects with the side of my face. The impact dazes me momentarily, the sharp taste of blood filling my mouth as pain shoots through my jaw. I stumble back, my balance wavering for a second before adrenaline surges through me like fire, fueling my rage.

I can hear Sophie’s voice in the background, panic and pleading threading through the chaos. But her words barely register. All I can focus on is making sure this guy never gets the chance to touch her again.

With a growl, I charge at him, but something pulls at me. I don’t reach him.

For fucks sake, I almost had him.

Large arms grab me, holding me back with a grip that’s firm and unyielding. I struggle against it with all my strength, but it’s useless.

“Let go!” I shout, my voice raw with fury and desperation. In this moment, I probably resemble a raging child. But I don’t care. Twisting my head to see who the hell is holding me like I weigh nothing, I’m met with the unyielding gaze of a burly bouncer. A very, very large burly bouncer.

“Enough,” his deep voice booms, cutting through the chaos. “Both of you, out, or I’ll call the police”

The predator in front of me scrambles up from the floor and runs toward the exit, leaving the bouncer still gripping me firmly. I continue to thrash against his hold, my chest heaving, but he doesn’t let me go.

“Have you calmed down?” he asks, his voice stern and resolute.

Calmed down? If he let me go, he’d see just how calmly I’d kick that bastard’s ass. My hands twist at my sides, adrenaline still coursing through me as I glare at him, my breathing heavy and uneven.Oh, totally. Zen as hell. Maybe I’ll start handing out hugs while I’m at it.

“Calm down! You look like a crazy person!” he snaps, his gaze sharp and unrelenting.

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