Broken (Broken 1)

Ugh, those stupid eyes.

Then, he slowly let a smile play across his face. “No, Whitley, only the fucked-up cowboys who want to forget everything for a little bit take home slutty bartenders to fuck the memories away. Are all New Yorkers such nosy bitches?”

I pushed him away from me and started to walk out the door. “Fuck off, asshole. ” I looked over at Misty as she gave me a shit-eating grin. “Enjoy it, sweetheart. He’s only using you for sex. Like all men, he’s an asshole who only thinks with his dick. ”

Her smile faded, and I saw her look over my shoulder. I kept walking, but I turned around quickly and saw Layton standing there, watching me.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Why did I just do that? He’s been nothing but nice to me since I met him. Okay, maybe not nice all the time, but he’s been a gentleman, and I just acted like a total bitch!

Courtney reached for my arm, and once we got a bit farther away, she stopped and spun me around to face her. “Holy shit, Whit. What in the hell was that all about? How many beers did you have? And what did that guy ever do to you that caused you to be such a bitch toward him?”

I felt tears stinging my eyes. I shook my head. “I don’t know, Court. I don’t know what happened. Something just snapped. Oh my God. I can’t believe I said that. I’ll never be able to show my face to him ever again. ” I put my hand up to my mouth and started crying.

“Oh, honey, it’s okay. You’ve had so much going on that maybe Richard telling you Layton was using that girl just for sex pushed you over the edge. Whit, you can tell me all you want that you can’t stand the guy, but I can tell you like him. Maybe you don’t want to take him home and have your wicked way with him, but you do like him. I think you might have gotten a tad bit jealous. ”

I stood there and just looked at my best friend. I wiped the tears away from my eyes and put my hands on my hips. I knew she was right, but no way was I admitting any feelings for Layton Morris.

“Bullshit. That’s just bullshit. I’m not the least bit jealous because I would never look at him that way. ”

Courtney raised her eyebrow and looked at me like I was a five-year-old lying to her mother.

I rolled my eyes and started walking again. “Ugh. I’m going home. I’m tired, I drank too much, and I hadn’t even wanted to go out in the first place. ”

We walked up to the traffic light, and Layton’s truck pulled up. He rolled down the window and gave me a weak smile.

“Why don’t you let me drive y’all home?” he said with that stupid sexy accent of his.

I looked in the truck and didn’t see Misty in the front seat.

Is she in the backseat? In another car? What in the hell?

Oh my God, my head. How much did I have to drink?

I began walking across the street, and Courtney followed.

“No, thanks. We don’t have far to go, and I need the fresh air. Go on and enjoy the rest of your night,” I called over my shoulder.

I was so pissed that I felt my whole body shaking.

I hate him! I hate him so much that I just want to scream. I can’t believe I ever let anyone treat me the way he did.

“Whitley, I’m just trying to be nice. Don’t be such a bitch,” he said.

I stopped in the middle of the street and balled up my fists. I instantly heard Roger saying the same thing to me—Don’t be such a bitch, Squeak.

“Ah…Layton, maybe you better just head on home. ” Courtney walked up and stood in front of me. “Whit, babe, I think you had a bit too much to drink, and—”

“How can you call me a bitch, you asshole? You don’t even know me! You know what? You’re a jerk, so just leave me alone. ”

I turned and started walking again. I could hear Courtney talking to Layton, and I didn’t even care what she was saying. I wanted to get out of these stupid new boots I’d bought and crawl into a hot bath. I wanted to forget about seeing him kissing her and touching her and how it had driven me to act like this insane person I was being right now. I just wanted to forget everything.

I heard Courtney coming up behind me. As I made my way up to the front door of our house, I felt tears burning my eyes. I unlocked the door and started for the stairs.

“Whitley. ”

It only took the sound of Court’s voice for me to break down. I sat down on the stairs and began crying.

“Oh God…” I couldn’t get any other words out of my mouth. I just cried hysterically.