Page 10 of Face Off
I close out my tab, but not before ordering a glass of water. One I grab once my signature has been scribbled on the check and walk madly toward the cheater of the hour.
“TUCKER!” I yell over the thumping bass as the music roars throughout the rooftop. As he turns around, a look of sheer panic registers on his face.
“Hayley, wait!” he says, coming toward me as I toss the glass of water over him and his slutty date.
“We’re done!”
I stalk back toward the bar, slamming the glass down before walking toward the stairs to leave this godforsaken bar. How could I have been so blind to not have seen this coming? He had become distant and short with me on the phone ever since I mentioned I was taking the job with the Skipjacks. Maybe this was all part of his plan, a way for him to keep his bachelor lifestyle going.
When I met Tucker, he was nothing but your typical bachelor. Dates and hookups with different women every night of the week. How he would use the excuse of working late when one woman started to get too attached. I know this because before Tucker and I became a thing, we were friends. However, it felt different when he finally asked me out.
You’re so fucking stupid,I inwardly scold myself as I make my way to the curb to wait for an Uber. Leaning against the brick wall to hold myself up, I wrestle with my phone to get the app open.
Yeah, how fucking stupid and delusional could I be.
“Hayley?” A voice comes from the doorway near the bar. I almost expect it to be Dr. douchebag, but it’s not. It’s none other than Mr. hockey douche.
I groan at him as I continue to struggle with my phone. Attempting to ignore him, but it’s not working. “Are you okay? What the hell happened in there?” he asks, stepping in front of me.
“Why do you care?” I hiss, turning to try to walk away from him but stumbling in the process.
I hadn’t thought I drank a lot, but apparently, I’ve underestimated myself.
“Where do you think you’re going? And in this condition?” he scolds as he grabs my elbow to steady me. “Come on, I’ll drive you home. We can get something to absorb some of that alcohol on the way.”
“No, thank you. I think I’ll wait for my Uber,” I say, turning my back to him. Now only if I can get this godforsaken app open.
“Not happening,” he scolds while stepping closer to me. My breath gets caught in my throat from the closeness, my teeth dig into my bottom lip as his hands move down my sides. Before I can register what’s happening, a small moan escapes my lips as he grips my hips tightly, tossing me over his shoulder before stalking to his car.
Sitting at a booth in Donna’s Diner. I haven’t been here since I was a kid, but Brooks seems to be a frequent flyer. Joanna, our server, an older woman with grayish hair, knew his order before he even said hello.
I stare at the phone in my hands as if Tucker’s going to call. Asshole didn’t even attempt to come after me when I caught him with that bimbo.
A stray tear travels down my cheek. I quickly wipe it away as I feel Brooks’ eyes on me. Observing my every move.
“I know it’s diner food, but it’s not bad enough to make you cry,” he says, staring at me with question. “So, wanna tell me what happened back there?”
Do I want to tell him about Tucker—No, but I know if I don’t start talking, he’ll never drop it. Plus, the stinging of tears against the back of my eyes says that I need to let it all out.
“I was dating someone,” I say almost on a whisper. “An old colleague of mine. I should have seen this coming the whole time.”
“What?” he asks, taking a sip of his coffee.
The flashback of tonight’s events run through my mind. Tucker’s hands wrapped around the blonde’s waist. Holding her close. Grinding against her as they swayed to the music. She looked familiar. Like she worked with us at the hospital.
I take a sip of my own coffee, wincing at the taste. Black. Yuck. I reach for the creamer and add two sugar packets before stirring it together.
I take a sip, making eye contact with Brooks as if he’s anxious for me to continue. “He started acting weird. It’s been going on for the past two weeks. I just never thought anything of it.”
Joanna brings our food, the greasy burger causing my stomach to rumble from the smell. She gives Brooks a little wink before walking away.
“Someone has a thing for you,” I say, rolling my eyes as I squirt a glob of ketchup on top of my burger.
He smirks a little before doing the same. “Nah, Joanna and I go way back. She’s like an adoptive mom to me. So, this guy. What makes him so special? Let me guess… big—”
“I’m gonna stop you right there,” I say, coughing from the food I choke on. “I thought Tucker was different from all the others. A unicorn.”
“A what?”
