Page 4 of Nail Me Down

“What? Right now?”

“Ya man. Have at ‘er.”

“What the fuck?”

“I’m kidding, man. I know you want her. But she’s still mine.” He’s such an ass. I’m done with this guy.

“Fuck you, Damon.”

He just laughs and shoulders past me. “Babe,” he calls out, “I got called into work. I’ll see you tomorrow. Ford, you should stay the night!” I don’t know what he means by that last part, but all I’m seeing is red.

And I don’t know if I can’t hear their conversation anymore or if the rage is roaring so loudly between my ears, but either way something has cut off all surrounding sound.

After Damon grabs his coat and leaves, I’m in some state of shock when I reenter the living room. She’s huddled on the couch. Blanket over her knees now. The movie’s been paused, and she’s just staring at the screen. She looks shellshocked from the movie and possibly from Damon bailing.

I have to get out of here because I cannot be trusted alone with her. But there’s only one thing I know. I can’t leave her like this.

Chapter 3

Holly

“Holly? Do you want to use my phone to call Dakota?”

“Oh, you’re still here, Ford?” Damn. I blink hard. I can’t cry in front of him. I tell myself to not be such a baby.

“Ya. I can go—”

“No.” Shit. I said that way too quickly. “Um…I’m glad you’re here.” I hug the blanket tighter around my shoulders.

“You wanna call Dakota?”

“Sure. Thanks.” I hate feeling this weak. This deflated. I hate it so much. But that stupid horror movie. And stupid Damon. And those beautiful but dumb flowers. I should be grateful. He bought me flowers to say sorry. Even though he didn’t actually say sorry. Shit. Don’t cry. This is not good. “I’ll just call her to see if she can come sleep over.” Otherwise I’ll be up all night checking behind the curtains.

When she doesn’t answer the call or three text messages, Ford and I just look at his phone.

Just as I plow through the only sentence I can form—“I’m going to go to sleep now”—Ford says, “I can stay.” He shoves his hands in his pockets. “I mean, if you need me to.”

And I really don’t want to need him to, but… “Ya…um. That would be cool. Damon said you should stay anyway.”

He chuckles for the first time all night. “Ya, not sure what he meant by that.”

I know I’m being such a baby about this, but I really hate horror movies. The only reason I let Damon turn it on was because he promised that he’d cuddle me all night. I can’t be left alone in this house tonight, so even though I shouldn’t take Ford up on this offer, he’s my only lifeline. “I could make up the couch for you,” I say, as I’m in the middle of smoothing out a blanket and finding him a pillow. When I look back to gauge his reaction, he’s smiling at me.

“Looks perfect.”

“Okay. Um…goodnight then.”

“Goodnight, Holly.”

“Goodnight, Ford,” I mumble-rush the words because they sound way too freaking intimate. Then I dash upstairs. Almost giddy. Giddy? After a horror film? That’s unheard of. I have no clue what the heck I’m feeling and why I’m feeling it. Scratch that. I do know. And I should definitely, one hundred percent not be feeling things for another man. I’m in a freaking relationship, for goodness’ sake.

I mean…it’s not great right now. And it’s been on the rocks for several months now…but I’m still with someone. Oh my God, I’m a horrible person.

This is what I say to myself all the way into my bed and as I pull the covers over my face. This is what I keep saying to myself as I fall asleep.

But I somehow forget to say it to myself when I wake up about an hour later from my own scream. Shit. This is why I hate horror movies.

My door bangs open.