Page 9 of Vow to Hate You

“What happened, Talie?” she asked under her breath. “Something’s wrong.”

“Nothing,” I told her, squeezing her hand. “It’s a lot being back in the States. Culture shock after being gone so long.”

I refused to tell her who was in the club. Damian didn’t want her to know, and I wasn’t going to involve her when it came to him.

“Let’s go,” Hayley said, unlocking the car. “We have bottles to drink at our apartment.”

Ana grinned, looking at Char. “You haven’t had nearly enough alcohol to celebrate your twenty-first birthday.”

We piled into the car, and I tapped my heeled boot against the floor as we moved at a crawl with all the other vehicles trying to exit. My heart was racing, my eyes darting around the garage, still in disbelief Damian hadn’t stopped me.

I was sure he was planning something. After everything, he wouldn’t accept me leaving again. But if I could get to my passport, I’d be home free. After checking my phone, I slipped it into my clutch, a slice of relief shooting through me once we were back on the busy city street. Char and her friends chatted all about the show, while I spoke just enough to pretend I was interested in the conversation.

The time slowly passed as I stared at the lit-up buildings. I did miss this city at night. It was still bustling. The kind of place I loved. But if I was able to leave, there was no way I was coming back anytime soon.

After we finally pulled onto their street, Hayley luckily found a close spot. I got out of the car, stepping on the sidewalk, thinking of how I was going to tell Char that I was leaving. I was supposed to stay another two days.

Char shared her apartment with Ana and Hayley. Their neighborhood was upscale and nice. Her large apartment was a stark contrast from the places I’d been living in for the last five years.

We walked down the sidewalk until Char suddenly stilled, a gasp escaping her. I glanced at her before following her gaze toward the entrance of their apartment building. My heart sank when I saw a man leaning against the brick exterior right next to the glass doors.

His stare was directed at me as he pushed off the wall, sauntering over toward us. I studied him, my pulse thrashing.In the club I hadn’t been able to because of the lighting and his mask, but now I could see him clearly.

“Damian,” Char squeaked out, her shocked eyes cutting to me.

His lips lifted in a smirk when he stopped in front of us and crossed his arms.Oh my fuck.He’d only gotten hotter in the last five years. He had natural waves, and his black hair was styled perfectly. He’d grown it out a bit longer than I remembered, but it made him look every bit like the sophisticated businessman he was. His jaw was clean-shaven, his face sharper, more pronounced than when he was a teen. His mesmerizing hazel eyes hadn’t changed—a feature I used to love about him. But now all I could feel was rage bubbling within me as I kept his stare.

The black suit he was wearing fit him perfectly. If I hadn’t known he was stripping and dancing on a stage less than two hours ago, it would be hard to imagine him in anything other than a suit. He was two years older than me, and at twenty-five, he looked like the best kind of wet dream.

Too bad he was an arrogant asshole.

“Happy birthday, Charlotte,” Damian said, his voice perfectly pleasant.

“Umm, who is he?” Hayley asked, her eyes eating Damian up hungrily. “A friend of yours, Char?”

I licked my lips, slightly shaking my head in a last-ditch effort to get him to let me walk away. Of course, he did the exact opposite.

“Her brother-in-law,” he corrected Hayley as he stepped forward, wrapping his arm around my waist to pull me into his chest. “How was your night, sweetheart? I missed you.”

It took everything in me to keep a smile plastered on my face when he lowered his head, planting a kiss on my cheek. I couldn’t make a scene, not when Char’s friends were here. Theirparents were in the same social circle as my father. To everyone, Damian and I were happily married, living in a long-distance relationship while I finished out school and my internship. If word got back to my father or Damian’s that we were not on good terms, there would be hell to pay.

“Brother-in-law?” Ana echoed in surprise. “I didn’t know you were married, Talie.”

“You used your maiden name earlier,” Hayley added, her gaze staying on Damian.

Damian chuckled. “She never took my last name. I love that my woman is so independent.”

That wasn’t true at all. I was supposed to take his last name, but I fled the city before we did the paperwork. I tensed when Damian moved to stand next to me, keeping his arm around my waist. His hold was tight, making sure I couldn’t slip away.

Char was sharing my panic as she looked between me and my husband. She didn’t know the entire story but was aware he was the reason I left five years ago, and I never wanted to come back to play housewife.

“The plan was for Talie to spend the night,” Char said with a weak smile. She was trying to give me an out. It wouldn’t work.

“Sorry, Charlotte. I need my wife tonight.”

Even though his voice was still nice, I didn’t miss the dark edge to it. He wasn’t leaving without me, and I didn’t want Char tangled up with this any more than she already was. If our father found out I was here in the city and Char didn’t inform him, then she’d be in trouble too.

“I’ll call tomorrow,” I promised, pulling away from Damian to give her a quick hug, whispering my next words. “I’ll be fine. This isn’t your fault. Enjoy the rest of your night. I love you.”

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