Page 58 of Nightmare

“Oh, no, did something happen?”

I shrug. “She just made it clear how she feels about me, and I don’t want to get in the way. It’s all a bit complicated, so I’m just creating space.”

Luna nods, reaching out to place her hands on my shoulders. “I got you.”

Forcing a smile, we get back to work.

I busy myself so much to shut my mind down that I don’t even notice when Western comes in. Looking up, I happen to notice him sitting in his spot, his eyes on me, and the moment mine connect with his, my body jerks. I look away quickly, heart racing, and move as far away from him as I possibly can. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Luna serve him, but I also see that he doesn’t take his eyes off me.

Stomach twisting with a sick feeling, I keep working until my shift ends.

The moment it does, I rush out the back, get changed, and take my keys. I don’t even wait for Mick to escort me out tonight, I simply rush out the back door and to my car in the parking lot. It’s dangerous, I know that, but I want to get out of here as fast as I can. I don’t want to see Western; I don’t want to talk to him, I don’t want my mind playing that scene over and over again.

Reaching my car, I just unlock it when I hear that familiar voice whip out from behind me.

“Bonnie.”

He rarely uses my name, and when he does, it sends a course of electricity through my body. Tonight, though, it only brings on an anxiety I’m struggling to fight. Closing my eyes, I take a deep shaky breath and pretend I didn’t hear him. I slide into my car.

“Do not drive away.”

Turning my head slowly, I see him approach and stop at my open door. My bottom lip begins trembling right away—I can’t stop it, no matter what I do. My emotions are showing, loud and clear, and there isn’t a single thing I can do to make them stop.

“Please, I just want to go home,” I say, my voice shaky.

“Talk to me.”

Talk to him?

Talk to him?

He must be kidding.

“I’m going home, Western.”

“No. You’re not.”

Holding my door open, he refuses to let me close it. Desperation rushes forward in my chest, and I begin to shake, the feelings inside me exploding out.

“Fine, fine, if you won’t let me go, I’ll get a cab. Take my car. I don’t care. I’m going home.”

My words sputter out as I leap from the car, stumbling past him. He reaches for me, and as his fingers graze my arm, a loud, terrified cry leaves my lips as I jerk it away, stumbling backward so fast I fall onto my bottom. Looking up at him, I begin to scramble backward, fear gripping my chest. I’m afraid of him. I’ve never been scared of him and in this moment, I’m afraid.

He pauses, his eyes flashing.

“Bonnie.”

My name again.

“Please,” I say, tears bursting forth and rolling down my cheeks. “Let me go home.”

He thinks on my question, for just a moment, and I’m certain he’s going to let me leave but, instead, he takes a step forward.

“Stand up.”

“Western, please.”

“Stand. Up.”

---