“You here alone?” His hand was attached to my waist, and I didn’t have much room to move.
“I’m meeting someone, so thanks for the offer.” I tried to smile and brush past him, but he was like a solid statue I couldn’t escape. I looked around his sculpted arms, pretending to search for my imaginary friend.
“I’d like to buy you a drink.”
The guy was really pissing me off. “I already said no thank you.” I dropped my sweet girl act.
This time I made no hesitation in my attempt to breakaway from him. I pressed my hand against his chest and shoved. It was like pushing against a rock.
“Hey, bitch. Watch it.”
He grabbed me by my wrist and twisted it. If he was trying to get me to cave to my knees, he knew what he was doing. I looked around to see if anyone noticed what was happening, but the energy was frenetic in the club and no one saw the dick who now had me in a mercy hold.
“Let her go.” From out of nowhere, Cole appeared.
He towered over the guy. Before he had a chance to negotiate whatever he was thinking, I raised my knee and brought it straight up with as much force as I could.
“Aww. Bitch!” The asshole let go of my wrist and crumpled to the floor.
I rubbed my wrist and stood over the guy who was writhing in pain.
“Wait, you didn’t even let me hit him.” Cole looked pissed.
“I didn’t need you to hit him. I took care of it.” I placed my hands on my hips.
The guy rolled on his side into a fetal position.
“But I was going to hit him.” Cole watched as he shifted to his knees and started to crawl away.
“I had it under control.” I glanced at Cole. “I already have one big brother.” I realized how bitter and nasty the words sounded.
“I can see that.” He rubbed the side of his jaw and shook his head.
I pursed my lips. “What are you doing here? I thought you said you hated this place.”
“Come on,” he directed me.
Cole pressed his palm into the small of my back and ushered me away from the wall. We walked out on the sound terrace where the rapper’s music wasn’t so loud.
“You shouldn’t be here alone. I never should have let you leave the Dunes.”
“You were worried about me?”
“Something like that.” He avoided eye contact.
“Well, I can take care of myself. I’m not a damsel in distress type of girl.”
Cole laughed. “I guess I should have thought of that. I’ll give you the self-defense technique.”
“Thanks. I think.” We both stared out at the water.
“Kaitlyn, why in the hell are you here alone?” Cole turned to me.
“I had to get out of that room.”
“No. I mean Padre. Why did you come here by yourself?” he pressed.
It was the one question I really didn’t want to discuss with him or anyone. But somehow I felt as if he deserved the truth.