Broken Juliet(41)

I should just tell Nick we’re not going to work out, so he can move on with someone else. He deserves passion. Mine’s currently unavailable.

Before I can say anything, he shoves his tongue in my mouth and presses me back into the wall. I pull back, but he grabs my face and kisses me again.

“Come on, Cassie,” he says as he grinds against my hip. “We’ve been dancing around each other for months. Let me make you feel good.”

“Nick, stop—”

He pushes my hand between us and leans into it. “Just touch me. Please. Dammit, I’ve been hard for you since the first time we met.”

“Nick—”

A hand closes over Nick’s shoulder and pulls him back.

“She said stop, *. Are you f*cking deaf?”

Ethan’s there, scowling and angry. He steps in front of me and stares down a confused Nick.

“Who the hell are you?”

“Someone who can tell from across the room that she’s not interested. Have some f*cking respect.”

“Ethan, I’m fine.”

Nick laughs. “So a guy’s not allowed to kiss his girlfriend around you?”

Ethan and I react in absolute unison. “What?!”

Ethan spins around to face me. “You’re his girlfriend?”

“Nick, I’m not your girlfriend.”

“Cassie, come on. We’re dating.”

“Not really,” I say. “I mean, we’ve been out on a few dates, but that’s it.”

“Well, I think our relationship is a bit more meaningful than that.”

Holt glowers. “You’re in a relationship with this tool?”

“No.”

Nick throws up his hands. “Cassie, what the hell is going on here? Who is this guy?”

“He’s … my ex.” The words still feel wrong.

“Really? He’s not acting very ex.” Nick squares off with Ethan. They’re about the same height and build. In a fight, you’d expect them to be evenly matched, but to me, there’s absolutely no competition.

And that’s the problem.

Ethan leans in. “Nick, is it?” He makes his name sound like it was something he scraped off the bottom of his shoe. “You were pawing Cassie like a creeper. Learn to take no for a f*cking answer.”

Nick draws up to his full height. “Do you go around stalking all your ex-girlfriends, or just this one?”

“You were groping her in the goddamn open. What the hell is your problem, man?”

“What’s your problem? Can’t handle that she’s moved on with someone else?”

I sigh. All I wanted to do tonight was get drunk and forget about my stupid emotions. Now I’m stuck in the middle of some sort of macho pissing match.

I push between the two men still glaring at each other. “I’m leaving, but by all means, you two keep arguing. It looks like you’re enjoying yourselves.”

Nick grabs my hand. “Wait, Cassie. Please. I’ll drive you home.”

Ethan bristles. “The hell you will.”

“No, Nick,” I say, and turn to face him. “You’re drunk, and I’m walking. Also, I don’t think we should see each other anymore. You did paw me like a creeper, and I’m not cool with that.”

Nick frowns but doesn’t let go of my hand. “Can’t we go somewhere to talk about this?”

“No. Now let me go, or I’ll let Ethan hurt you, and you really don’t want that. He’s good at inflicting pain.”

I don’t miss the expression that passes over Ethan’s face.

When Nick drops my hand, I walk to a pile of coats near the front door and dig until I find mine. Then I pull it on and walk out.

As I close the door behind me, the chill hits my cheeks. When I exhale, a cloud of steam pours from my mouth.

I really just want to go to bed and forget about today. Maybe tomorrow will be better.

I’ve barely gotten to the sidewalk before I hear footsteps behind me.

“Cassie, wait.”

I keep walking. After all this time, why does Ethan choose tonight to break our unspoken rule to stay away from each other?

“Hey. Stop.”

He grabs my arm, and I shove my hands in my pockets as he walks around and stands in front of me.

“It’s f*cking freezing out here,” he says. “Let me drive you home.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re shivering.”

“So are you.”

“Yeah, but I’m about to get into my nice, warm car, and you’re about to freeze your ass off. Come on, I can have you home in twenty minutes. Don’t be stubborn.”

“Hah! You’re calling me stubborn?”

“Well, I would have said ‘f*cking stubborn,’ but I’m trying to f*cking cut down on my f*cking cursing.”

“Funny. Why do you keep swooping in and trying to save me tonight? I don’t need you.”

His mouth twitches. “Oh, I realize that. Over the past year, you’ve made it abundantly clear.”

“Then why are you even bothering?”

He pulls his jacket around him and looks at the ground. “I don’t know. I just figure it’s about time we start being civil to each other. You looked upset tonight, and more than a little drunk. If you stay out here, you could freeze to death. Or worse, run into a drunk * like Nick. I’m leaving anyway. Why not let me drive you home?”