Page 64 of Off-Limits

“Bullshit.”

“It’s the truth. I would have been so embarrassed if he was an old, overweight guy with a beer gut.”

Arrie laughs.

“Was he?”

“Not in the slightest.”

“Are you going to-to see him again?”

“No. It was a one-time thing. I told him I don’t want more. He didn’t even know I was a virgin.”

“Dottie! Damn, girl. Cold.”

Arrie grins at me, but she must sense my discomfort because she links her arm with mine, and we walk out of the bathroom. Just before we reach the table where the boys are sitting way too close together, Arrie stops me and faces me.

“You are not getting out of this so easy, girly. Next week, on our girls’ night out, I want to knoweverything.”

I swallow hard and nod.

Smiling at me, Arrie yanks me along with her, and we sit down with the boys, but I suddenly feel jaded, and like I could use a good nights sleep in hopes that when I wake up, this nightmare is fucking over.

However, just as I’m about to voice exactly that, I get a feeling like spiders skittering all over my skin, and I glance up and lock eyes with Damon across the bar. He sits on a stool in apair of faded, ripped blue jeans, a white shirt and an unreadable expression on his face.

I feel hot. Really fucking hot.

Grabbing the margarita that’s waiting for me, I scull the contents with my eyes on Damon, my nipples hardening under the thin black dress I have on. I can see his smirk from here.

Fuck. Him.

Moving my hand to my face, I pretend to move a strand of my hair, when in reality I am giving him the bird. Asshole. I quickly turn away from him, not wanting to see his reaction, only to find Arrie lip-locked with Adam, Connor sitting between them.

This is not what I signed up for.

I get up and hightail it out of the bar, flagging down an Uber to The Melrose.

As soon as the car begins to move, so does my damn head. I feel sick, but it’s more from lying and keeping secrets, than it is from the alcohol. Resting my head on the headrest, images play on repeat in my mind from my night with Damon.

Why is it, that when I finally decided to give up my V card, it had to be with someone that was unavailable, un-fucking-reachable. With the one person I can’t have, but also with the potential of hurting the only person in the world I care about in the process.

Rubbing at my sternum, I force myself to breathe and stay in the moment. What’s done is done. I can’t go back and change shit, but the sad thing is, I wouldn’t even if I could.

Qué Será, Será

What will be, will be.

I must have dozed off, because before I know it, I’m jolted awake as the car is slowing. Opening my eyes, I look around and find we are pulling into the parking lot of TheMelrose. I pay the driver the fare and give him a tip, before exiting the car and heading toward my room.

Pulling the keys from my bag, I push it in the lock and turn, and just as the door opens, I’m shoved inside with a hand over my mouth and panic setting in. I start thrashing around, throwing my arms and weight around, but then a scent wafts up, and I freeze.

“That’s right, Blossom, the Tin Man has come to claim what’s his, and you’re going to be a good girl for me and get on your knees, aren’t you?”

Chapter Eighteen

DAMON

Iam barely hanging on by a fucking thread.