Page 25 of Home Brewed (The Perfect Cup #1)

Hazel

I know something’s up the moment Beck’s arms stiffen around me.

A chill goes through me as I turn to see where he’s looking and see Nessa waving like a madwoman.

Now, Nessa may be dramatic, but she looks downright terrified, an emotion I have never seen on her.

Beck tries to move in front of me, placing himself between me and the end of the hallway.

Sneaking around his side, I see my worst nightmare come to life.

The first date I’ve been on in years that Justin actually shows up for, and it’s not even with him.

What the fuck?! How did he even know I was here?

I’m wracking my brain trying to figure out where I went wrong.

My heart races and I struggle to breathe, trying to think of how we can sneak out of here before he sees me, before he sees us together.

I follow Beck’s lead as he moves to sneak us out of the hallway to the back exit.

Unfortunately, the path is blocked by drunk patrons. He pats his pockets for the office key.

“Shit! I didn’t bring it with me.” Beck looks stressed.

“I’m going to go grab one from Nessa, you stay right here .

” He kisses me soundly before I can respond and takes off, sneaking out of the hallway, leaving me alone in the dark.

With Justin positioning himself between me and the exit, my hands get clammy and my pulse races.

I’m anxiously picking at my cuticles, watching Nessa and Beck fumble for the office key, when I see Justin clock me.

He’s standing at the end of the hallway, his laboured breathing evident as he sloppily stumbles towards me, muttering.

I back up as he approaches, quicker than I’d realized, and before I can get far, his hand is fastened around the top of my arm painfully.

“…out with my fucking boss , insatiable cunt, never happy with what you had, were you?!” He stops, now directly in my face, and takes note of my outfit.

“And now you’re even dressing like a whore!

” His volume ramps up as spittle flies from his mouth, “You think you’re so high and mighty, throwing a bitch fit about me sleeping with other people when you’re too much of a prude to put out.

Who’s the cheater now, bitch?” His hand twists where he’s got a hold of me, and sharp pain shoots up my arm as I cry out.

Words catch in my throat and my eyes sting with tears.

Come on Beck, where the hell are you?! I still haven’t managed to get a word out, fear clogging my voice, when I see someone come up behind him.

“Don’t you fucking touch her.” Beck sounds murderous, walking up from behind Justin, keys in hand. He looks at where we’re joined and grabs Justin’s wrist in a punishing hold as he twists it, forcing him to release me. Beck backs him into a wall, making a clear barrier between me and my aggressor.

I whimper and hide behind Beck, praying for this all to be over. If Justin follows us out to the back alley, who knows what will happen? I rub my arm, and I can already tell there’s going to be a bruise there later.

“Get out before I call the cops,” Beck says with authority. His hold on Justin’s wrist hasn’t let up, and Justin starts to sweat a little. His crazed look darts back and forth between us, a cruel smile twisting his face.

“You should know now, she’s fucking frigid.

You’re better off fucking literally anyone else.

I know I was,” he laughs drunkenly at his own joke, leaning in towards me over the hold Beck has on him.

I smell what I can only describe as hand sanitizer but is probably a metric shit ton of vodka on his breath.

He makes a retching noise in the back of his throat, teetering a little before righting himself.

The tightness in my throat threatens to spill over.

Every comment he makes is a dagger, taking me down peg by peg.

I can’t decide if I’m more angry or heartbroken that someone I thought I loved is saying this to me.

“You’re going to fuck off in three seconds or I’m calling the police.

Your call, Justin.” Beck’s not backing down, and the fear that this is going to turn into an actual brawl is suffocating.

Perspiration dots the back of my neck. Beck has a size advantage for sure, but Justin fights dirty, always has.

“I’ll leave when I’m fucking ready to leave! You’re always kicking me out of here, that’s such a douche move, you know? I’m still talking to her! You can’t keep me from my girlfriend, asshole!”

I explode, unable to take it anymore, “I’m not your girlfriend, Justin! I was barely your girlfriend when we were dating, I was your fucking mother! All I did was clean up after you and take care of you, just leave me alone!” My voice is raspy and raw.

“You’re fucking my mom?” Justin’s face crumples with confusion and disgust, “That’s messed up, Haze.” I roll my eyes so hard they might fall out.

“Get out, Justin! We’re over! How many times do I need to say it?

” Beck looks back at me, concerned, but I’m on a roll, angry tears spilling over as my rage grows like a wildfire, “I can’t have this fight again!

What will it take for you to stop and leave me alone?

Let me move on with my life!” My breath is heaving in relief, like the pressure has finally burst and I can breathe again.

Beck pushes Justin further down the hallway, back to the main room.

“Out.” He says with finality.

“Fuck you, man. She never means that shit, you know she’ll come back to me.

I’m the only one who’ll put up with her.

” Justin tries to push Beck’s shoulder, which only makes Justin stumble.

When I look past Beck, I can see we’re almost back in view of other people.

Mel’s at the bar making a phone call while alternating looking between us and the door.

I have no idea where Nessa is. If I were her, I would have bailed the second Justin walked in here.

“You know, just ‘cause you mailed me my stuff doesn’t mean we’re over, not until I say we’re done.” He looks so smug.

Before I can say anything, Nessa walks up from behind him with what I can only assume is the largest man she could find in the building.

She points at Justin and the man nods. I only now notice that the band is no longer playing.

I recognize the mountain of a man she grabbed now.

He’s the drummer, her brother, James. Probably from directly off of the stage, knowing her.

His close-cropped hair and steely expression only make him more intimidating.

Combined with his size, Justin should be shitting himself right now.

Unfortunately he’s not smart enough for that.

James grabs Justin by the upper arm, in the same spot Justin had been holding me, and starts to wordlessly drag him out, giving a nod to Beck.

“Fucking let go of me, what are you doing?! I’m allowed to be here, you giant! Get off of me!” Justin’s voice rings out as James half drags him out of the bar, where I can now see flashing lights pull up outside.

Justin looks back at me one last time. “This isn’t over, Hazel!” he shouts, the red flush on his face deepening. I hug myself, still partially behind Beck as I watch James deliver him to the cops with the slim view I have. He’ll probably get put in the drunk tank until he cools down.

The desire to run home, away from all of this is overwhelming. I feel wrecked.

I look over at Beck, who is still watching Justin get carted away, ensuring that he’s gone. When Beck’s satisfied, he turns back to me and his face softens. He opens his arms to me, and I fall into them. He rests his chin on my head, absorbing all the stress I have pent up in my body.

Placing a sweet kiss there, he says to me, just loud enough to be heard over the music that’s started again, “Let’s get out of here.”