Page 69 of Fight For Us
No, no, no. I opened my lips to say it but the words were no more than a whisper suffocated by the thick blanket of laughter surrounding me.
Tears streamed down my face as I struggled to suck in a breath. “I’m fine.” I repeated the phrase, in between focused breathing, until my tears dried up and my throat ached. I had no idea how long I’d been in the bathroom, but as soon as I splashed water on my face and made myself presentable again, I opened the door to see Damon waiting for me.
“Olivia, there you are,” he said. “Are you okay?”
I cleared my throat. “Yeah, I’m not feeling well. I’m going to find my sister and let her know.”
His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “ I understand. I hope you feel better. Maybe we can get together another time?”
I gave his forearm a sympathetic squeeze. “I’m actually recently married.” I flashed my left hand, showing him the simple band on my ring finger. “Sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
“Oh, wow.” He let out a dry laugh and scrubbed a hand over his face. “I feel like an ass.”
“You’re not! I’m the one who should have spoken up earlier.” I hugged my arms to my chest. “Anyway, happy New Year, Damon. I’ll see you around.”
“Happy New Year,” he said. “And congratulations.”
I plastered on a fake smile and turned the corner to find Wes leaning against the wall, arms crossed with a deep frown on his face. “Shit, Wes. Where have you been?”
“I could ask you the same question,” he said. I knew instantly something was off by the tone of his voice.
“You could, but you didn’t.” I huffed. “Can we go? I’m not feeling well.”
“I was just leaving.” He ran a hand through his hair and turned toward the front door.
“What the hell, Wes?” I called after him. He didn’t stop or even slow down. “You’re going to leave me here?”
That got him to stop. His hands clenched at his sides and he faced me. “You have plenty of company already, don’t you think?”
“What are you talking about?” My pulse picked up as I stepped up to his chest.
“You and that guy go missing at the same time.” He paced the front hallway, not meeting my gaze. “I couldn’t find you for half an hour, Olivia. Then I see you with your hands all over him. Tell me that’s just a coincidence.” A laugh bubbled up from my throat. As much as I tried to hold it in, I couldn’t. He glared at me. “I’m glad you think this is funny.”
“Wes, are you serious right now? Nothing happened with me and Damon.” I shook my head at the absurdity of it.
“Then where were you?” His tone dropped the edge it carried and he finally met my gaze.
“Do you really want to know?” I let out an exasperated breath as tears welled in my eyes.Let’s go somewhere to talk.My hands trembled again and I knew I needed to get the hell out of there. “I don’t need this,” I said, pushing through the front door.
This night was a total shit show. Why not throw the end of my fake marriage on top of the heap? If he couldn’t trust me, then what did we even have?
I had no idea where I was going, only that I needed space from him and everyone at that party. The front yard was quiet and empty. The only light came from a single fixture hanging above the front door. I rounded the corner until my chest heaved in a shallow breath. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I swiped until I found my Uber app, and clicked to re-download it. I knew my chances were slim of finding an Uber at eleven at night on New Year’s Eve in a residential area like this, but I had to try.
“Olivia, I’m sorry. I’m a fucking idiot. Please, don’t shut me out.” Wes turned the corner but I didn’t glance in his direction. I couldn’t let him see the hurt in my eyes. I’d break if I saw that he was hurting, too. Even through my anger and panic, I cared for him. I cared for him too much. “Tiger, please.”
His voice cracked. I ignored the blaring alarms in my head and glanced at him. He looked small with his shoulders caved in and head held low. A cry caught in my dry throat and I fought the urge to go to him. Anger blocked my path.
“I wouldn’t hurt you like that, Wes. I know this isn’t real, but we have an agreement. No one else.” I held up my left hand for emphasis. “I was in the damn bathroom having a panic attack,okay? That’s the truth. I don’t know what else to say to you right now.”
“You were? Are you okay?”
I let out a dry laugh and checked the progress of my download.
He spoke again and as much as I didn’t want to look at him, I met his gaze. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help you through it. I’m so fucking broken, Olivia. I know you won’t hurt me.” He spread his palm on his chest and pounded once. “But inside, in here, I can’t help but wait for it to come. Look at you, and then look at me.”
I swiped my tears away with the back of my hand. “Stop. Don’t put yourself down. You have to trust me when I tell you I won’t fuck you over like that. We made a deal. A promise. I don’t break promises.”
“Is that all this is for you?” My pulse raced as he stepped closer. God, he looked destroyed. Like one push and he’d shatter into a hundred pieces.
