Part 14 (1/2)

My eyes narrowed. ”A formality?”

Stay calm.

Stay calm.

You don't want to be that crazy b.i.t.c.h who makes a scene in the bookstore.

”That came out wrong.” He held up his hands. ”I just meant... we were halfway to being broken up anyway. We stopped hanging out, unless it was for s.e.x, and we were both okay with that. I mean, you knew I was always going to lunch with Amber and you never even cared. It didn't bother you at all,” Caleb defended with a helpless shrug.

”Because I trusted you,” I all but shouted, thoughts of being calm completely gone. ”Don't you dare make me feel bad because I trusted you.”

He had the decency to look ashamed as tears welled up in his eyes. ”I'm sorry, Naomi, I am. But you didn't need me. Amber... well, she makes me feel important.”

My mouth dropped open in horror as he revealed something he'd never told me before. ”I-I made you feel unimportant?”

Caleb shrugged once more. d.a.m.n, his shoulders were getting a workout. ”Guys like to feel needed. And, I mean, apart from killing the occasional spider, you didn't need me.”

I closed my eyes as I tried to shove my emotions back. ”Look, I'm sorry.” I opened my eyes to see his horrified expression at my apology. ”No, I am. I'm trying not to be the crazy, bitter ex-girlfriend, especially because I know you're right. We were over,” I said, bypa.s.sing the talk about how apparently I made him feel irrelevant. ”I don't know if we'll ever be friends like we once were, but I'm willing to try. Not now, but maybe in a few months, we can try... if you want.”

He nodded eagerly. ”I want that, and I know I'll want it later, too.”

”Fine. I gotta go.” I turned around and exited the bookstore without another word, leaving with a whole h.e.l.l of a lot, but without getting anything I actually came for.

I stumbled toward Swerved after the cab dropped me off. This afternoon and my text messages with Damien felt miles away. I'd felt my phone vibrate a few more times, but I never checked it.

I reached the door just as a lip-locked couple stepped out. I made a gagging noise as I pa.s.sed them and slipped into the club. It was a Tuesday night, so not much was happening, only a handful of couples were on the dance floor and only half the bar was filled. My gaze bounced around looking for Damien, only to be met with disappointment.

”Naomi?”

”AH!” I yelled as a hand gripped my elbow. Turning around too quickly, I lost my balance and stumbled into a boulder. I blinked rapidly as I stepped back and started poking it. When did boulders develop hands? Another yelp left my throat as the boulder's hands gently gripped my wrists.

”Naomi.” The voice was firm, but kind. Since when did boulders talk? My gaze lifted and... oh... not a boulder. Just an extremely solid chest. An extremely solid Damien-shaped chest.

My eyes narrowed on him. ”You're not a boulder,” I said accusingly.

His eyebrows furrowed in confusion. ”What?” He stepped forward and sniffed before wrinkling his nose. ”How much have you had to drink?” The question was clearly rhetorical as he guided me to the bar and gently pushed me in a seat before getting the bartender's attention and ordering a water.

”And a couple shots of tequila, please.” I burped, because I was a lady like that.

”Absolutely not,” Damien said in a rough voice, a concerned frown on his beautiful face.

”Excuse you, but you ain't my mama.”

He laughed. ”Something tells me you wouldn't listen to me even if I was,” he mumbled as the bartender's gaze flickered between us. Damien motioned his approval as she filled two shot gla.s.ses to the rim and slid them across the counter. Picking one up, I looked at Damien and nodded to the other.

”I'm at work.”

”Suit yourself.” I brought the gla.s.s to my lips just as a guy came up on my left and s.n.a.t.c.hed the other shot. Mouth wide open, I watched him toss it back and smirk before leaning closer. I quickly shut my mouth and lowered the untouched gla.s.s as I swiveled toward him.

”Oh, did you want to join me for a drink?” I asked in a sickly sweet voice. I heard Damien grunt behind me, he knew I was about to be an a.s.s. That made my smile a little more real.

The guy's smile widened at my ”invitation” as he gave me a sleazy once-over. ”Absolutely, baby.”

My smile vanished as he stepped closer and put a hand on my knee. I could feel Damien stiffen behind me, but before he could react I grabbed my shot and threw it in the guy's face. Damien and the bartender chuckled as his face twisted in anger, the grip on my knee tightening.

This club and my knee did not have a good relations.h.i.+p.

Damien's laughter immediately broke off as he noticed. He quickly stepped around me and shoved the guy's hand off before roughly pus.h.i.+ng him backwards. ”Get the h.e.l.l out,” he barked. ”Or you'll leave with more than just a stained s.h.i.+rt.” The guy relented quickly, and a minute later he was out the door.

”I see you don't exactly need a defender,” Damien said as he pushed some hair back from my face. I stared at him with wide eyes. G.o.d, he really was beautiful. He was wearing all black like usual, a tight T-s.h.i.+rt stretching across what I knew was a perfectly sculpted chest and jeans that made me irrationally jealous of denim. His beard looked just as perfect as it had when I first met him, and I longed to run my fingers along it before burying them in his loose, blond locks.

I ripped his hair tie away so I could do just that. He let me, but his eyes were concerned as they moved around my face.

”Naomi?”

”What?” I murmured softly, scooting closer to the edge of my seat.

He looked around before focusing his intense stare on me. ”Are you alone?”

”Yep.” My head bobbed with my rapid nods as I moved my hands down to rest on his broad shoulders.

Damien frowned. ”I thought you didn't like to get drunk in public.”

”I don't,” I answered truthfully before I hiccupped. I was surprised he remembered me telling him that. ”But I trust you to take care of me.” Our stare was intense as our gazes stayed locked.

”What happened that has you so upset? You never texted me back. I was worried,” he said softly. The distressed look on his face left me breathless. Damien grabbed both my hands and brought them to his lips. He placed a gentle kiss on each one before holding them to his chest and raising his eyebrows in question.

But I couldn't answer. Because now that I was sitting in front of him, I realized I wasn't upset anymore. If Caleb hadn't cheated on me, I wouldn't have met Damien.

I s.h.i.+vered as the thought left me cold.

Now, that would be something to be upset about.

My gaze zeroed in on her chest, and no, it wasn't for the obvious reason. Although her t.i.ts did look fan-f.u.c.king-tastic in her tight s.h.i.+rt, they weren't what caught my eye. It was the necklace.

My ”reason.”

She hadn't worn it since that day. I knew, I checked.

”I'm gonna make sure the guys can cover me and then I'll take you home. Okay, sweetheart?” This time when I called her ”sweetheart” it was completely sincere, not a trace of mockery in my voice, and I vowed there never would be again. Her warm smile told me she understood as much, despite her inebriated state, and she nodded.

Naomi hiccupped as she stood up before stumbling forward and falling against me. I immediately wrapped her in my arms, and when I pulled her back to look down at her, her face had paled and her eyes were fluttering.

”Hey, hey, are you okay?”

”I'm fine,” she slurred as she struggled to stay standing.

I narrowed my eyes and looked around. ”No, you're not. Sit there,” I said, pointing to the far end of the bar, where a couple of the girls were cas.h.i.+ng out. ”I'll come get you when I'm done.”