Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
He looks so imposing in my apartment. Like a giant in a playhouse.
“You can sit, you know,” I tell him as I take a seat in my cozy armchair, leaving him with the sofa.
He takes a seat on it, almost taking up two of the three seats that the sofa has to offer. Sitting forward, elbows on thighs, hands cradling the cup, he stares across at me.
“I know I already asked you outside, but are you really okay? That prick didn’t hurt you, did he?”
“No. I’m fine,” I reassure him.
“Did he…used to be like that with you…in the past? While you were together?” He seems to struggle with getting the words out, and if I didn’t know him like I do, I’d think the thought of someone actually hurting me bothered him on an emotional level.
“No.” I smile softly. “Kyle was a cheating asshole and could say some pretty mean things at times. But he never once got physical with me. That’s the first time it’s ever happened.”
Ares exhales, his body seeming to relax a little. “Well, I’m just glad I was here to scare the shit out of him.”
“Why were you?” He looks taken aback by my question, so I expand, “I mean, I just figured you’d left after I got out of your truck.”
He gives me a disgruntled look. “I might be an asshole, Ari, but I’m not a careless one. I wasn’t leaving until I saw you go inside your building. Especially not when that prick was sitting, waiting outside for you.”
It jolts me when he says my name. He said it a couple of times when we were outside, but everything was crazy then, so it was hard to register, but now, in the silence of my apartment, hearing him call me Ari…it’s nice.
Better than nice.
I bring my coffee to my lips, blowing on it to cool it. “You are an asshole,” I say over the rim of the cup, giving him a wry grin. “But I am grateful that you were here. I really do appreciate it.”
Because I have no clue what would have happened if he hadn’t been. I would like to think that Kyle wouldn’t have hurt me. But, once upon a time, I never thought he would cheat on me.
It really is true that you never know a person.
I shiver, and Ares notices.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I was just thinking.”
“About?”
“What might’ve happened if you weren’t here.”
His face darkens. “Don’t worry about that. But I do think you should think about getting a restraining order.”
“Doesn’t that seem a bit extreme?”
He gives me an irritated look, and I concede. “Okay, I’ll consider it.”
“Get a rape alarm, too. That’d scare the motherfucker off.”
“I’ll pick one up tomorrow. But could I ask…please don’t mention Kyle turning up here to my dad? He’s been trying to get me to move back home with him since…everything. Kyle showing up would only strengthen his case.”
Even though I’m angry with my dad for not telling me that he gave Kyle money, I can’t let on to him that I know because then he’d know that I saw Kyle, and I definitely don’t want that.
“I don’t know, Ari. Your dad should know.”
“Please,” I say softly, eyes pleading.
He lets out a sigh. “Okay. But on one condition.”
“What?” I take a sip of my coffee.
“You let me drive you to and from work.”
“What?” My head snaps up so fast that I hear my neck click.
“I don’t want you catching the bus and walking home alone with that prick loitering around.”
“First, how do you know I catch the bus? And, second, I’m pretty sure Kyle won’t be coming back around. I think you scared him off for good.”
He puts the cup down on the coffee table. “One, I know you catch the bus because you don’t have your license at the moment.” He ticks off on his finger. And I wait for the barb about how I lost it to come…but it never does. “And, two, that guy isn’t smart enough to give up on the first try. He’ll be back; trust me.”
“I don’t need you babysitting me, Ares. And why would you even want to?”
“Because you won’t let me tell your dad about what happened with that dipshit tonight. And because, believe it or not, I do have a conscience, and I would never forgive myself if something happened to you, and I knew what was going on and did nothing about it.”
“There’s nothing going on.”
“That out there wasn’t nothing.” He jabs a finger in the direction of the window. “That guy was drunk and aggressive with you. He grabbed you, for fuck’s sake. So, it’s either me driving you or we tell your dad.” He stubbornly folds his arms.
I stare at him, furious. I don’t like being backed into a corner.
And since when did he turn into a decent guy who cared about my welfare?