Page 79 of Meant to Be

“Don’t pull away like that again.”

Again, he says it through his teeth, his smile never wavering. I wonder if he has practised doing that. Or maybe he has done it so much in his life that it comes naturally to him.

I long for the moment I can escape him, and after thirty minutes, it came. I stay in the bathroom far too long, leaning against the wall of the cubicle, reminding myself that this is what I wanted. I like the dresses, the jewellery, the rooftop parties, the cocktails. I like this life.

Then why do you need to convince yourself?A voice in my mind taunts me.

I step towards the sink and stare at myself. I am unrecognisable. Striking dress, brown skin, highlights in my hair and body parts that aren’t naturally mine. I look like the girl I’ve strived to be for so long. Why doesn’t it feel right?

Pushing out the door, I stumble over my gigantic shoes, my shoulder barging with someone else’s.

“Oh, sorry!” A deep voice exclaims in alarm, steadying me. “Are you all right?”

“Yes,” I answer breathlessly, my eyes settling on light brown eyes and a kind smile. “Fine. Sorry.”

“It’s me who needs to apologise, I wasn’t looking.”

“I basically catapulted out of there.” I offer a nervous laugh.

“Well. We can both be sorry, then.” He smiles. “Gordon.”

“Josie.”

“Nice to meet you, Josie. Can I offer you a drink?”

“I’d certainly love a drink,” I admit. “But I’m here with someone.”

“Does he not like you to drink?”

“Not with men who aren’t him.”

Gordon’s lips stretch. “Ah. Yes. You make a good point.”

“Have a good night.”

“Josie?” His hand touches my arm. So gentle, so different to Elliot’s possessive grip. “Are you sure you don’t want a drink?”

“It’s not the drink I’m not sure about,” I try to joke, but the words come out too heavy and flat.

“Josie!” a voice slices through the air, startling me so violently I jump, feeling like I’ve been caught doing something I’m not supposed to be. “I’ve been looking for you for the past ten minutes.” Elliot thunders down the small hallway, his long legs striding beneath him. His eyes land on Gordon’s hand on my arm and our proximity, his nostrils flaring.

“See you around,” Gordon blurts, letting me go and scuttling down the hallway. I want to yell out to him, tell him to stay. Because suddenly I fear what is about to happen. I can feel it bristling in the air around us.

“Who the fuck was that?” Elliot gripes, his long fingers twisting around my wrist. “This is where you’ve been? Hiding in the hallway with another guy?”

“We ran into each other when I was leaving the bathroom—” I try to explain, but I knew there was no point. It was there. The anger. Simmering in his eyes, itching to be released. The same anger I saw three months ago.

Those fingers that were at my wrist suddenly grip my neck. He squeezes so hard a winded, pathetic sound leaks from my mouth. I suck in a sharp inhale, trying to get as much air into my throat as I can, but he doesn’t allow it.

“After everything I give you,” he snarls, his voice low, the threat in his voice more suffocating than his hold on me. “You treat me like this. Ungrateful little bitch.” I feel the coldness of the pearls tightening around me. “If you ever disrespect me like this again, you won’t see another day.”

I’ve sat in silence, wrapped in my own memories, for a long moment. I’m slingshot back to reality, when my phone rings again, brightening in my hand.

My eyes watch the wordElliotuntil the screen fades out once more. A message pings, telling me a voicemail was left. I haven’t been checking them.

Slowly, I slide my finger across the screen.

“Josie.” His voice sends a mass of goosebumps scattering across my skin. The hair on the back of my neck stands and I squeeze my eyes shut. “I’ve played nice for long enough now.” I think back to the few messages I did listen to. It’s all words I’ve heard before. He loves me. He misses me. He’s justsosorry. He will never do it again. He really, really means it this time. “Come back.Now. I am not one to be humiliated. I am not to beleft. This is your last chance to come back willingly on your own. You won’t like the alternative.”