Denied (One Night 2)

My blank face is suddenly looking up at Miller after he’s turned me in his arms. All rage and stress has gone, his eyes clear and concerned. ‘Would you like a moment alone with your friend?’

I’m stunned. Totally dumbfounded. I nod, unable to get any words past my shock. Miller nods, too, exhaling deeply and dipping to kiss my nose as his palm cups the back of my head. He’s prepared to allow someone the opportunity to interfere?

‘I’ll take a shower,’ he says quietly. ‘Take as long as you need.’ The uncharacteristic display has thrown me for a loop, and I know Gregory is slightly taken aback, too. I can practically hear his shock in the form of a surprised, thumping heartbeat. I’m about to nod again, but I’m quickly considering how uncomfortable Gregory might feel remaining in Miller’s apartment. And me, too, for that matter. Miller lurking in the background ready to attack should he overhear some words he doesn’t approve of will do nothing to relax me.

‘We’ll walk down to the coffee house,’ I utter, less confidently than I would have liked, my heart sinking when Miller starts shaking his head with worried eyes. ‘I’ll be with Gregory,’ I add with a pleading gaze, but with no faith that that will sway him. Gregory must be wondering what’s going on. I can’t land him with stalker news, not on top of everything else. ‘Please.’ My shoulders sag, defeated.

The confliction riddling him is plain and clear and written all over his face. ‘Okay,’ he agrees reluctantly, nearly knocking me to my backside in astonishment. His soft eyes leave mine and harden the moment they find Gregory. ‘I trust you’ll guard her with as much care and attention as I do.’

I cough on a choke and gape at his perfectly straight face, knowing he’ll be getting the same look from Gregory. He really isn’t helping his cause. I understand him. I get him. I see past his uptight persona and hear past his confounding way with words. But no one else can.

‘What?’ Gregory asks, amusement mixed with pure exasperation clear in his tone.

Miller twitches, his eyes narrowing. ‘I don’t like repeating myself.’

‘For f**k’s sake,’ Gregory laughs. ‘Where the f**k did you find this twat?’

‘Greg!’ I gasp, spinning around and backing up into Miller’s chest to prevent the inevitable.

‘Well, give me a break, please!’

‘I’ll break your f**king neck!’ Miller scathes, punching holes through my beaten friend with raging eyes over my shoulder.

‘Enough!’ I shout, throwing my hands up violently. ‘Just . . . enough!’ There are a million words I want to throw into the mix, ones for Gregory and for Miller, but at the risk of escalating the situation further, I take some calming breaths and close my eyes to gather a bit of patience. ‘Gregory, wait in the kitchen.’ I chuck my arm out in gesture. ‘Miller, come with me.’ I grab his hand and start pulling him away. ‘I’ll be ten minutes,’ I call over my shoulder, not giving either man a chance to retaliate. I’m not leaving them alone. I’ll return to pools of blood and discarded bones.

‘I’ll wait in the hallway,’ Gregory spits, and I hear the door slam viciously, shaking the apartment walls.

Miller splutters, pulling me to a halt. ‘Did he just slam my f**king door?’ His eyes are wild and he makes to turn, his face screwed up in disgust. ‘He just slammed my f**king door!’

‘Miller!’ I yell, diving in front of him. ‘Bedroom! Now!’ I’ve lost it, madness churning in my gut, heat rising to my face. Now he’s being fastidious for the sake of it. ‘Don’t make me repeat myself!’ I’m shaking. I’ve reached the end of my worn tether with these two, each behaving like a bulldog, letting their egos cloud what matters. Me! ‘I’m going for coffee with Greg!’

‘Fine,’ he says, looking sulky, ‘but if a hair on your head is damaged when I get you back, I won’t be held accountable for my actions.’

‘I’ll be fine.’ What does he think will happen to me?

‘He better make certain of it,’ he scoffs.

What? ‘You sound like a conceited idiot!’

‘Olivia.’ He dips and gets nose to nose with me, his eyes burning bright with fervour, while mine are burning bright with frustration. ‘You know how I feel about people interfering, and you know how I feel about them upsetting you. Not only will I break his spine if you return to me physically harmed, but I’ll hold that promise if he upsets you.’

My whole body slumps dramatically. It’s intentional, just so he can physically see how much he frustrates me.

‘Overthinking,’ he whispers, sliding his palm onto my nape and pulling me forward, closing the minuscule gap that remained between our mouths and sealing our lips.

‘I won’t overthink,’ I promise, letting him suck my annoyance out of me. I’m past that now. ‘And after everything you’ve put me through in the last twenty-four hours, Miller? I’m having coffee with a friend.’

I feel his lips purse against mine. ‘As you wish.’ He can’t argue with that. He wraps me in his arms, disconnecting from my mouth so he can sink his face into my wild blond hair. It’s like he knows that a Miller thing can magic some strength into me. It never fails. ‘I count on your strength, my gorgeous girl.’

I embrace him and let him squeeze me strong. Or stronger. I might have been hugely annoyed with what’s happened since Gregory rocked up, but my strength didn’t waver. I’ll never run away from us. ‘I should take a shower.’