The Hardest Fall

His brows inched up toward his hairline and he raised both hands in surrender, backing away.

Ignoring Zoe, I poured a whiskey for one customer and got two beers for another. Even though I didn’t want to, I could still see her out of the corner of my eye, could see how quickly she was gulping down her beer.

All of a sudden, I couldn’t bear to have her around. I couldn’t get away from her perfume, that fucking sweet berry scent. I couldn’t look away and not remember how good it’d felt to feel her soft skin, to have her underneath me, how responsive she was to my touch, how her eyes had sparkled when I’d run to her side after the game in Tucson, how good it’d felt when she looked into my eyes for more than a few brief seconds…her blue panties, her wet hair, her wounded eyes…her arms around me, holding on…how excited she got when she was eating pizza, how she called the damn thing a love circle…her fucking shy smile, her orgasms…

All of it played like a fucking movie in my head.

Anger burned through my insides.

“You’re done,” I said, coming to stand in front of her. “I want you to leave.”

I looked straight into her eyes, and she returned my gaze without a flinch. I couldn’t tell if she was already drunk or not, couldn’t tell what game she was playing at.

“I’m not going anywhere, not before you talk to me.”

“What gave you the idea that we have anything to talk about? If you want me to call Coach to pick you up, let me know.”

Her eyes flashed with an emotion I couldn’t pinpoint, and she sat up straighter in her seat. “If you want me to leave, you’re gonna have to drag me out of here.”

I braced my hands on the bar top and watched her.

“Don’t try me. I have nothing I want to say to you.”

Her eyes narrowed and she leaned forward. “Then just listen to me.”

I quirked an eyebrow. “Not interested in that either, buddy.”

This time her eyes flashed with anger, and for some fucked-up reason, it thrilled me. My heart rate picked up and I gripped the wooden edge so I wouldn’t reach out to her and take her lips.

“I won’t leave this spot until you give me five minutes, and you will give me at least that much, buddy,” she spat.

“Suit yourself.” I walked away.

A minute later, Lindy came back in from her break and took over.

Ten minutes passed.

Then fifteen.

Then thirty.

With every second she kept sitting on that damn bar stool, I got closer and closer to losing my shit in front of everyone. When it reached a point where I couldn’t take it anymore, I snapped the rag I had in my hand and tossed it away. Getting out from behind the bar, I walked to her side. By the time I was there, she was already standing up, waiting.

“I’m not leaving, Dylan.”

“Yes, you are. I’ll listen to whatever it is you need to say just so you can get out of my sight.”

Grabbing her arm just above the elbow, I pulled her behind the bar.

“I’m taking ten,” I shouted to Lindy as I opened a door that took us into the small kitchen then led her out into the dimly lit back alley.

The metal door slammed shut behind us, and I let go of Zoe as if her skin had burned mine then put some distance between us.

“Start so I can be done with you already.”

She stayed silent, so I looked at her. Her eyes seemed to be filling with tears. I tried to ignore what I was feeling and stayed put.

“I’m so angry at you,” she said quietly, finally.

“Excuse me?”

“I’m so damn angry at you!” she repeated, her voice clear and strong.

“Yeah?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “For what? Because I didn’t play along with whatever fucked-up game you were playing at? Because I walked in on you with him and interrupted you two? How dare I, right?”

Her eyes narrowed as she leaned toward me. “I’m angry at you because you blocked me! I’m angry at you because you never even let me talk to you.” Then she straightened and she was no longer leaning forward. “I thought I was your friend, Dylan. If nothing else, I thought I was at least that.”

I snorted and laughed. “My friend? Were you thinking of your friend when you got into his car and left with him? Or right before I walked in on you two?”

“What are you talking about?” She frowned. “What car?”

“Don’t even try to lie to me, Zoe. If you’re here to tell me he just came to the apartment on his own and I misunderstood everything, save your breath. I was waiting for you in front of Jared’s apartment. I was right there when you ignored my text and climbed into his car.”