I frown at Brielle and gesture to Thomas with my chin. Who him?


    She nods subtly and shakes her head as if she doesn’t understand, either. What the hell? He left me


    because his brother asked where he was. I start to feel my pulse throbbing in my veins. What the hell am I


    doing sitting here ying nice?


    I put my phone down onto the table and re at star. He raises his eyebrows in question.


    I shake my head in annoyance. Thomas and Brielle continue talking and I stare down at the table. I


    think it was better when I thought he had a reason to leave me. In my twisted mind I had been justifying us


    hooking up by thinking that the attraction between us had been so strong, he just hadn’t been able to fight


    it. But no, I was just another number.


    “Are you married, star?”


    Fuck it, I’m justing out with it now. Who cares? It’s not like I have anything to lose. He obviously


    doesn’t care.


    star narrows his eyes, annoyed at my question. “I have answered this already.”


    I re at him. “That isn’t a fucking answer.”


    “No, I am not fucking married,” he growls.


    “Don’t you dare swear at me!” I’m outraged. Of all the nerve. Irish swearing sounds mean.


    “You swore first and it was a stupid question.”


    My mouth drops open in horror. “Was it?” I snap.


    “It was,” he half yells.


    My eyes flick to our twopanions who are, rather wisely, staying silent.


    “If you’re not married, tell me why your little brother here texts you in the middle of the night and asks


    where you are? Your wife or girlfriend had obviously called him to find out where you were.”


    His eyes flick to Thomas. “How do you know that?”


    Brielle gives me a subtle don’t do it shake of the head.


    “Because Brielle hacked your phone, and I am so onto you, asshole,” I snap, outraged.


    His angry eyes re at Brielle. “You hacked my damn phone?” He snaps.


    Brielle smiles stupidly, not quite believing I just dobbed her in so easily and she points at me. “She


    told me to.”


    His angry eyese back to me. “That’s it.” He stands abruptly and throws his napkin onto the table.


    “Don’t bother leaving, because I am,” I yell.


    I grab my bag and storm toward the door and he bursts out after me. I run to the curb and lift my arm.


    “Thomas, look after Brielle,” I yell at him, and he nods, too scared of my psycho performance.


    “You are impossible,” star yells. “You’re angry with me because I’m not married? How dare you


    invade my privacy?”


    I turn to face him, fury coursing through my veins. “I’m angry that you used me and we both know it


    was you who invaded me.”


    His face drops. “Is that what you think?”


    “I don’t think it. I know it.”


    He stands still and watches me but doesn’t answer.


    My anger gets the better of me, stupid tears form. “You hurt me,” I whisper.


    His face drops and he steps toward me.


    I hold my hands up in defense. “Don’t. Don’t you dare touch me,” I choke.


    “Em…” He whispers.


    “Stop it. I know you’re a yer and you’re used to this. This love and leave them routine must make


    your belt notches pretty big. Tell me, star, do I have an STD?” My voice cracks betraying my hurt.


    He frowns.


    “If you didn’t use a condom with me, you obviously don’t use them at all.”


    His face falls. “Of course I use them with everyone else. I’mpletely clean. In fact, I have only had


    unprotected sex once in my life.”


    I shake my head in disgust. He’s just cemented what a liar he is. He had unprotected sex with me


    numerous times… he doesn’t even remember how many times we did it. Sadnesses over me like a


    dark, heavy nket.


    “It’s not what you think?” He pauses. “This situation is not what you think. I couldn’t stay away from


    you.”


    I shake my head in disgust. The lies are just bleeding out of him now like poison. “It is exactly what I


    think, star. Who are you kidding? You couldn’t get away from me fast enough.”


    A cab arrives to save me. I jump into it, but he leans through the half open window. “I don’t want you


    to hate me.” I re up at him. “Toote. I do,” I reply coldly. “I hate that you made me feel like this.”Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    The cab pulls away from the curb and we speed down the street as the tears of sadness fill my eyes.


    London is a disaster.


    The sound of a gunshot makes me jolt up in bed, and I pant as I try to catch my breath.


    What was that?


    Who was shot?