Page 7 of A Man in Uniform

“Story? Story? Are you still with me? Hello?” Jenny snaps her fingers in front of my face. “Over here, eyes on me.”

“What?” I ask.

“Forget it, I'm not going to say it all again. But I will say this, it's time for you to really move on, because if don't, you're going to end up just like my mother; a miserable, lonely woman, who prefers the company of her cats over the company of anyone else. Do you want to be that person, Story? Do you want to be the cranky cat lady?”

Shaking my head, I roll my eyes as I smirk. “Alright, I get it.” Reaching my arms out, I give her a hug. “On that note, I'm heading home. I'll give you ladies a text tomorrow. Sound good?”

“You alright to drive?” Claire asks.

“Yeah, I'm good, you two be careful.” I smile and push my way through the crowd and out the exit.

The fresh air feels good on my face, causing me to inhale a deep breath. Pulling my keys out, I put my head down and head for my car. It's bright on the sidewalk, but turns dark as I round the corner to where my car is parked.

I can see my crappy two door sedan from across the lot. The rust covered fenders stick out like a sore thumb against the bright green paint. The music dulls the deeper into the parking lot I get, and an eerie silence wraps my shoulders like a prickly blanket.

My ears perk, my skin bristles, and I can hear the wind whistle as it blows between the cars. Looking back over my shoulder, I get the feeling like I'm being watched, so I walk faster.

My car is right there, it's so close. I keep my gaze fixed on the car, while I fumble with my keys in my hand, trying to make sure I have the car key ready.

Stopping at the driver's side door, I struggle to find the key on the ring. A tingling sensation starts to work through my body, and I'm suddenly seeing doubles.

Rubbing my eyes, I blink a few times, hoping it will fix itself. I feel weird. It's hard to explain what it is exactly, but my entire body just feels different. I'm getting really tired, and it's getting harder and harder to keep my eyes completely open.

I'm not drunk, at least I shouldn't be drunk. I only had two drinks the entire night, and that God awful shot Jenny gave me.

My fingers work through each key, playing an endless game of not the right one.

Come on, where the fuck is it? I know it's here.

A noise crackles behind me, causing my fingers to stop moving and my ears to perk. I listen.What was that?It sounds like rocks being kicked across pavement.

I attempt to twist my head and look around when I'm suddenly struck from behind like a surfer by a shark in the ocean. A heavy hand sweeps across my mouth, stealing my scream. I try so hard to push my voice past his fingers, but it's useless.

Muffled noises are all that come out. I can taste his skin in my mouth, it's salty with a hint of dish soap. Lifting my fingers to the hand, I try to peel it off my face, but all that does is make him press harder.

The edge of his finger is getting extremely close to my nostrils, and I'm afraid if I move in the wrong direction, he'll block my nose and I won't be able to breathe. Freezing, I try to keep my head still.

“Hello again. How are we feeling? You look like you're having a good time,” he says, his tone mockingly sweet. His fingertips dig into the flesh of my cheeks as he grabs me by the hips and spins me around.

The bartender. . .

The man behind the bar who made me the drink is smiling at me, but that smile isn't kind at all. The look in his eyes sends terror through my body. My heart races, my stomach is in knots, and I can taste the bile as it rises to the back of my throat.

There was no man buying me a drink. . . It was him.

“Figuring it out now, aren't you?” His lips curl up, brows dropping hard. “The real rule is to never take a drink from anyone you didn't see make it.” He chuckles at his own words, but I'm not laughing at all.

“I knew the second you walked in tonight that I was going to take you home with me. But I don't take rejection well, so I like to make things easier on myself. It should be kicking in soon, do you feel it yet?”

My eyes expand wide as I shake my head.No! Don't do this! You don't want to do this!

“No? Why would you say no? Because that body of yours. . .” He pauses, leaning back to look me up and down. “That body is saying you want this more than I do.”

Every inch of my body starts to shake, my muscles trembling so violently I can feel my bones vibrate.

The man presses his heavy frame against mine, pinning me against the side of my car. His hand is still covering my mouth, and he starts to run his free hand up my thigh.

He's getting closer, almost touching my panties. My instincts kick in, and I react. I'm not out of it yet, I'm still alert enough to try and do something.

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