Page 49 of Perfect Assumption
“Indeed. And Austyn would be terribly embarrassed, but if you spend a great deal of time in these clubs, you really should wear these.” Sliding her hand into her jeans pocket, she pulls out a pair of foam earplugs. “I’m sorry. I should have introduced myself. Dr. Paige Kensington. I’m an audiologist.”
Becks’s Paige? This can’t be possible.“But…” Just as I’m about to ask her more questions, an arm bands around my waist tightly, and I freeze in terror.
A dark room. Spinning. Lights flashing. Music playing.
Someone touching me.
My fight-or-flight instinct kicks in. I begin to struggle with everything inside of me before a furious voice I recognize pierces through the fog of yesterday that I started to sink into. “I realize you were upset before you went into the restroom,darling, but I’d have thought you might be over it.” Ward’s voice is like ice shards next to my ear.
I collapse against him as the past recedes, and shame washes over me. I turn my face away from him.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was you. I was advising Dr. Kensington there was no recording in the club,” I manage to gasp.
He tugs me next to him. His grip loosens noticeably. “That’s club policy, ma’am.”
“As Miss Fahey made me aware.” Her piercing green eyes stare into mine.Green, not blue.Somehow, I dimly manage to note that.
“I’m so sorry for interrupting your work.” I’m embarrassed and anxious to scurry away.
Dr. Kensington glares furiously at Ward. “Youshouldn’t be. But right now, I almost wish it did record. No person should ever be terrified like Miss Fahey was. Ever. Are you okay?”
Robotically, I nod. I want to run into the restroom and hide, but I can’t. I just can’t. Not now. I’ll never leave, and I have to. I need to go now. Panic begins to well up inside of me, choking me. My breath comes out in short pants.
What was so beautiful before has turned terrifying. My head swivels from side to side, searching for the monsters hiding in the corners.
Because they’re real. I know they are.
“Maybe I’ll still speak with Marco.” She gives me a woman-to-woman perusal before scooting around us and slides further down the rail. Her arm shoots out back over the balustrade, but her focus remains on us.
I immediately step away from Ward, unable to care what all of this means for Becks. As for me, well, while I got to experience something I never thought I would, I shakily manage, “I’d like to go.”
Ward’s expression gives nothing away. He simply extends an arm for me to pass him which I do with a wide berth. I shoot a quick look over my shoulder right before we leave. I see Dr. Kensington speaking with the man from the dance floor and gesturing. His head snaps up. I duck my head and slip out the door, unwilling to make a scene.
For the first time, I understand Sula’s regrets. Maybe if I hadn’t spoken up all those years ago, I would have recovered enough to have lived some sort of a life.
Or maybe, my life would have been that much worse because I wouldn’t have my honor to wrap around me when there’s nothing else to hold on to and cry.
Eighteen
Angela
Conversation starter: Did you catch B.A.D.A.S.S. on TV last night? Who do you call when you hit rock bottom? #lightsoutonbroadway
— Viego Martinez, Celebrity Blogger
Ashort while later, we’re ensconced in Ward’s Mercedes on our way back to Carys and David’s. There’s not a lot of space in these luxury vehicles, I think absurdly. I can feel the heat of Ward’s body filling the small space without the additional comforts of the seat warmer. And the knowledge that two people can warm a vehicle simply by sitting in it calms one part of my heart while terrifying the damaged part of my soul.
What the hell am I going to do? Do I dare to explain?
The silence between us is oppressive as the miles fly by. But the part of me still shaken from the flashback wonders if it wouldn’t have been better for Ward to go alone. I manage to get that much out, causing him to laugh bitterly as he downshifts.
“Do you think so? You likely found out more from just being personable to Dr. Kensington—I assume a relation to the DJ?” I nod but don’t offer more. Ward continues. “—than I found out from bluntly asking Louie about whether Kensington was worthwhile to take on as a client when I saw him head back to the office—which is where I disappeared to, by the way. He waylaid me meandering on about how talented she was.”
“Oh. I wondered where you were.”
Ward makes a sound I can’t interpret. “Yeah. So, I figured out I made three major mistakes today.” Before I can ask what he means, he immediately launches into, “First, I came into this being a complete jackass, and that started long before we walked into the club.”
“I get Becks not letting you in would be a problem; Carys too. I just don’t understand what I did that offended you.” I try to steer the conversation from where I don’t want it to go.
