Page 39 of Die for You

But with Jeremiah, I don’t do any of them. My body’s response is fawn—cozy up to the predator, say or do whatever you need to do to placate them. To keep them from sinking their teeth in.

Juliet’s response is fight. “You need to get the fuck out of here.”

“You look familiar.” He points at her and Sienna, that charming smile still fixed to his face. “The Sigma Chi party, right? You know Rora?”

My stomach sinks. I should never have let them intervene. I shouldn’t have roped them into this mess. Who knows how he might retaliate against them now that they’re in the middle. I would never forgive myself if he hurt them.

“Leave.” Juliet isn’t backing down.

Jeremiah doesn’t flinch. His smile swings to me. There are few things I hate more in this world than feeling his eyes on me. “Can we talk? Over coffee? I’m buying.”

The offer reminds me too much of my coffee date with Finn. Finn would lose his shit if he knew Jeremiah was here. All of the Devils would if they knew Sienna, Juliet, and I were alone with him, even somewhere this public.

“She’s not going anywhere with you,” Juliet seethes.

“I think Rora can speak for herself.” Jeremiah gives Juliet a smile tinged with a hint of irritation that only someone who knows him well would pick up on. Too soon, his attention is back on me. “We can catch up. It’s been a while.”

His face gives nothing away, but he’s always been good at hiding his true emotions until he lets the dam break. Until the smile slips away and his upper lip curls into a sneer. For now, he keeps up the act. Too many witnesses.

He must know about the restraining order. The court hasn’t notified me yet, but that must be why he’s here.

Juliet’s and Sienna’s gazes are on me. Juliet is waiting for a signal from me to unleash her like a bloodhound, and Sienna is ready with a phone in hand to call the police. Or better yet, the Devils.

I hate that they’ve all been roped into this shit. Trapped in the quicksand with me that I’ve been fighting for years to escape.

Slowly, I draw in a deep breath, trying to steady the ball of anxiety ready to explode. “No,” I whisper.

“What?” He heard me. He fucking heard me, but he’s never taken no for an answer.

I clear my throat and lift my chin. “No. We can’t talk. I don’t want to go anywhere with you.”

A flicker of fury in his eyes is the only sign that I’ve pissed him off. But as quickly as the rage appears, it vanishes. Cageduntil he’s ready to unleash it. “Well, you know how to reach me if you change your mind.”

The tension hangs heavy in the air, even after Jeremiah strides out of the door with a clang of the bell. Our diners have fallen silent, and the clatter of spatulas and plates from the kitchen are the only sounds that ring out.

Leah sinks her nails into my arm. “You can’t be bringing your drama in here.”

I shake her off, ready to bite her fucking head off. “Ididn’t. He waltzed in all on his own—I didn’t invite him.”

I’m tired of being blamed for the actions of men. Professor Abernathy glaring at me like it was my fault the Devils showed up and told her off. Leah acting like I’m responsible for Jeremiah showing up to my job and causing a scene. Finn was right—this shit isn’t my fault. None of it.

Leah glares at me. “Jesus. Chill out. I’m just trying to help you not get fired. You don’t have to be a bitch.”

She stomps off, and I’m sure she’ll get a bigger sympathy tip from her tables for getting chewed out by her coworker.

I collapse into the booth with Sienna and Juliet, clasping my shaking hands together on the table. When I dare a glance out the window, Jeremiah slips into his car.

But he doesn’t leave.

What if he lingers out there until my shift ends? Until I’m away from witnesses?

“I can’t believe he would just show up to your job.” Sienna scoots closer to me, resting an awkward hand on my shoulder.

“I can. I filed a restraining order against him. They must’ve served him. Now he’s pissed.”

Juliet sulks back in her side of the booth. Almost like she’s pouting that she couldn’t rip his eyeballs from his skull. “You did the right thing filing it. It’s not your fault he’s a shithead.”

“How did you two meet?” Sienna asks.