Page 105 of Up In Flames
Please, God.Not again.
How is it possible to have two encounters with him within a week when I managed to avoid him for literalmonthsafter he couldn’t be bothered to give me the time of day when I fucking needed him?
I feel Patrick’s presence the same way I can tell when Knox enters a room, but Patrick’s energy weighs me down, whereas Knox’s lifts me up, makes me smile, and helps me relax.
I force myself to finish the song because fuck if I’m going to let Patrick ruin my apology to Knox thathemade necessary in the first place.
A quick glance at our table tells me Knox’s eyes are on me…which means he’s about to notice Patrick as well because the bastard is waiting for me off to the side of the stairs. I bow theatrically to applause I barely hear before slipping my microphone back onto the stand and making my way to the steps and all the bullshit that awaits me.
“What are you doing here?” I ask with every ounce of anger and annoyance I can muster, not even bothering to stop or look at him.
“I’ve been here every night since running into you at the restaurant last week, hoping to catch you. I always loved watching you sing. I thought about coming by your apartment, but I didn’t want you to feel cornered,” he adds, like it’s some heroic deed on his part.
“So, stalking me in public is supposed to make me feellessthreatened?” I clarify, stopping in my tracks as our time runs out, and Knox notices who’s talking to me.
“I’m notstalkingyou,” Patrick says as if I’m being totally unreasonable. “I’m putting myself in your path because I’ve beena wreck ever since running into you the other night, and I can’t stop thinking about you.Please, baby. Give me a chance to make things right.”
“I’mnotyour baby,” I spit through gritted teeth. “And fuck you for ruining my peace in order to find yours.”
I try to walk away when his hand grips my wrist, and I know without a doubt tonight isn’t going to be the redemption story it was meant to be.
Chapter 37
Knox
Livvy’s still yammering on about how she can’t believe Tay’s willingly singing a Taylor Swift song for me, but the importance of that act is lost due to the fact that Patrick is touching my fucking boyfriendagain.
“Oh,fuck no,” I growl, standing so fast I almost knock our table over.
“Knox?” I vaguely hear Livvy shout my name before the fury ringing in my ears takes over everything.
Yanking Taylor out of Patrick’s grip and tucking him to my side, I place my hands on either side of his face. “Are you okay?” I ask.
Before Taylor has a chance to answer, Patrick does it for him, clearly annoyed at being interrupted again. “He’sfine.It’s not like I kicked him, for fuck’s sake.”
“I thought I told you to stay the fuck away from him.” Pushing Taylor behind me, I feel myself starting to lose control, and I don’t want him to get caught in the crossfire. “Go sit with your sister.”
“And I thoughtItoldyou,Taylor can talk to whomever he wants.”
This pretentious fucking prick.
“He doesn’t want to talk to you.”
“You sure about that?”
I use my last ounce of rationality and head back to the table. Pissed over having another night interrupted by this fucker.
Taylor is my top priority, though. Getting him out of here and initiating a restraining order against Patrick are the first two items on my list.
As soon as I reach the table, I rip my jacket off the back of the stool and grab Taylor’s hand. With my jacket draped over my arm, my now-free hand guides Livvy by her back, and I usher them both toward the door.
“What’s going on?” Livvy asks.
“No time to explain. Let’s go.”
We push through the doors, but an extra set of footsteps sounding on the gravel behind us tells me that Patrick has followed.
“Taylor, just give me five minutes.Please,” he begs as we weave through rows of cars.
