Page 30 of Playing with Forever
“He was being creepy,” she said defensively, and she wasn’t wrong. “He doesn’t even live near here, right?”
“No, he doesn’t,” I said, glancing over my shoulder because I felt like he was still watching me from somewhere in the store. “Let’s just get out of here.”
Violet quickly grabbed the last of the groceries we needed from the produce section. We did self check-out and hustled out of the store. My nerves didn’t really start to calm down until we were safe at home. I put the groceries away, while Violet seemed fixated on her phone.
“What are you up to?” I asked, putting the bags of salad into the refrigerator.
“Checking out Heath on social media,” she replied, then grimaced. “Oh, eww.”
“What?” I couldn’t help myself and looked over her shoulder at what had prompted her negative response.
Heath’s last post was a repost of one of those photo quotes that people shared around. It said,why do women always rush to get their hearts broken by abusive assholes, while the real gentlemen wait patiently for a recognition that never comes?
My stomach pitched. I couldn’t help but think that post, and those words, were directed at me—at what I had wanted in bed. Heath seemed to think me wanting a dominant partner meant I wanted to be abused.
Violet shot me a concerned look. “You look like you’re going to throw up.”
I pressed a hand to my belly. “I feel like I might,” I said, and voiced the thoughts I’d just had out loud to her.
Her lips pursed. “Well, if it is directed at you,he’san asshole as well as a creep. BDSM isn’t abuse and wanting that power dynamic in the bedroom doesn’t mean you want to date a jerk. And Heath’s not much of a gentleman if he posts shit like this.”
“Very true,” I muttered.
“Do you know what a real gentleman does?” Violet continued, a triumphant smirk on her lips. “He tries to protect you when you feel unsafe,” she said, clearly referencing Chase.
“Oh my God.” I groaned. “Violet…”
“I’m just saying!”
“Chase and I are just scene partners. Nothing more.” I had to keep telling myself that, just to keep my own emotions out of the equation.
Violet rolled her eyes. “Good God, you make it sound like you’re in a play together.”
Thatalmostmade me giggle. “Ha ha.”
“Well.” Violet put her phone down and crossed her arms over her chest. “No matter what, I’m glad you broke up with that idiot. You clearly dodged a bullet with him.”
Yeah, I could definitely agree with her on that.
CHAPTER12
Chase
The major upside to working with as many wealthy clients as we did was that they often gave us guys some pretty great perks. Like tickets to a sold out concert, or an evening out at a Michelin star restaurant, or front row seats to a sporting event. People tended to be grateful, and generous, when they knew you were the one saving their life and keeping them safe, and so gifts were pretty normal and commonplace.
This time, Ford had been given a group gift card for one of those indoor skydiving places, so a bunch of us guys from the office were going. Sutton bowed out because he was the enemy of fun and Kane was on a job so couldn’t attend, which left two slots open.
If any of you know anyone who would be interested in joining on Sunday, let me know!Ford told the group chat.
When no one replied, my mind went to places it shouldn’t have, and before I could change my mind I sent a message back to Ford.Is it okay if I invite a friend and her sister? Or do you want this to be a guys only event?
Hey, I’m all good, as long as they like skydiving!
I hadn’t seen Andrea since that night at the club. We texted, and even though she’d followed through on my request for her to message me when she got home after work, I saw this as the perfect excuse to see her outside of the club and establish more of a friendship between us, so that when we went our separate ways, we’d at least have that to fall back on. Or so I told myself.
I asked Andrea if her and Violet would like to join us, and she replied fairly quickly, and enthusiastically.
We’d love to! I’ll admit I’m a little nervous, but Violet is totally into that kind of thing. Nothing rattles her. I think she’s a little bit of an adrenaline junkie.
