Page 24 of Wicked Proposal

The pub is filling up around me, the music’s good and people are dancing. My bag sits on my lap I suddenly feel it vibrate. Opening it up, I take out my phone. A message from Troy sits on the screen.

Letme know where you are and I'll pick you up later.

You don’t haveto do that; we can get a cab.

I answerwhile waiting for Kellie to come back.

The bubbles bounce indicating that he’s typing.

Kellie arrives backwith the pitcher while I’m waiting on his reply.

“Who’re you talking to, or need I ask.” Her eyebrows bounce again. “Is it the beast?” Her chuckle has me shaking my head and I drop my gaze to the text on the screen.

I’d rather pickyou up. At least then I know you’re safe.

Am I safe though?

I hitsend and turn it face down. It’s a question I’ve been asking myself for a while now although I’m not sure I should have voiced it. Well, it’s too late now. I look up and two guys are staring at us, no, they’re ogling us. “Great.” I say out loud and Kellie glances up looking concerned...

“What’s wrong?” Kellie asks as she pours the cocktail into our glasses. I nod my head in the direction of the guys behind her and fidget in my seat as they make their way over to us.

“Ladies,” They both nod as one of the guys speaks up. “I’m Carl and this is Stuart. Can we get you a drink?”

“No, thanks.” Kellie looks at me with wide eyes, she obviously wanted a drink. “We have one,” I hold my glass of martini up to prove it. “See.”

“So, what’s your name’s?” One asks.

Kellie spins around in her seat and crosses her legs. “I’m Kellie, and this is Emily.” She holds her hand out to shake hands with them both.

They aren’t bad looking guys. One is blonde and the other mousy coloured, but they have nothing on Troy, I admit silently to myself.

Picking up my glass I take a sip and hold it in my hand to stand up, taking my phone in the other. As I pick up my phone I glance at the screen and see a reply from Troy.

I’m not a monster.

I quickly reply.

I knowyou wouldn't physically hurt me, it’s every other part of me I’m concerned about.Like my heart.

As I gulpthe contents of my Martini, I almost kick myself for letting that slip in my text. The last thing I need is to show him my weaknesses, although I’m pretty sure he knows me better than I know myself. I fill my glass from the pitcher and top up Kellie’s while she chats away to one of the guys. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to use the ladies.”

Putting my drink down for just a second, I drop my phone into my bag then grab my drink, there is no way I’m leaving it on the table, I strut away on my heels before the other guy can stop me.

As always, there’s a queue for the ladies, but I wait patiently. My phone vibrates from my handbag just as a cubicle comes free. I slip inside and sit down to pee and reach inside my bag to grab my phone. As I turn it over, I see a missed call from Troy. I don’t ring him back, instead drop it back inside and straighten clothes, flushing the toilet and leave the cubicle. I quickly rinse my hands beneath the cold tap, shaking the excess water from them and dry them on a paper towel. Picking up my drink from the back of the sink, I turn the corner to leave the toilets. Someone says hello, giving me a fright. What is it with guys scaring me half to death. I look around until I find the culprit and see it’s the guy that was at our table.

“Hi,” I scowl. “Do you usually hang around the ladies’ toilets?”I move out the way of the doorway.

“Well, I find it a great place to meet women, so yeah,”

“Mate, you need to get a life,” I snigger, “there’s actually names for people like you.” I leave him standing there and head back to Kellie. “Wanna dance?”I ask her, interrupting her conversation.

She looks between me and him, a wide grin settling on her lips. “Sure.” She grabs her drink and turns to walk away with me.

“What’s up with your friend?” I hear the guy she was talking to say, I’m not sure who is who I didn’t take any notice.

“Don’t mind her, she’s a princess and has been locked in a tower and is dying to party.”

My eyes roll as I gulp down another drink. I’m going to be hanging so bad tomorrow. “And she’s a twat that makes up stories.”

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