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“If you like her,” I say, motioning toward Addilyn, “then make a move.” He turns bright red and looks back down at the bar top.
“Trey.”
“What?” he grumbles.
I lean in close so only he can hear me and offer him an apologetic smile. “You know I love you, and FYI, she likes you, too…so make a move.” When I back up, his eyes are wide with shock.
“Are you serious?”
I nod and give him a thumbs up. Hopefully, he’ll take my advice. I would love to see my friends happy.
I join Addy and Daisy on the dance floor and we really start getting into it. We are all laughing and having a good time when a hand closes over my arm. I turn to tell whomever it is to leave me alone when I come face-to-face with a very pissed off Ryan. His grip on my arm tightens and I wince from the pain shooting up my arm.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he spits right in my ear.
I try to pull away but he only grips me harder. A whimper of pain escapes me. “What are you talking about?”
“We’re leaving.”
What is going on? Feeling terrified of what is going to happen if we leave this crowded bar, I shake my head.
“I don’t want to go.”
His angry gaze feels like it’s burning a hole through me and he begins pulling me to the exit. At the exact moment, Trey comes up to us, looking every bit the protective older brother that he is.
“You need to let her go,” he demands, his voice like steel. I’ve never heard him sound like this before.
“This doesn’t concern you,” Ryan snaps and Trey clenches his fists. I look around and realize that almost everyone is staring at us. Embarrassment floods me. I can’t believe this is happening right now. I need to get Ryan out of here. Once we get home, I can apologize and he won’t be so angry.
“Trey, it’s okay,” I whisper, my voice shaky and unconvincing. “Baby, let’s go,” I say, turning to Ryan.
“Emma, no!”
I shake my head at my brother. “I’m fine, Trey.” I wrap my free arm around him and give him a hug. “See you tomorrow.”
As soon as I release him, I am being tugged out the door of the bar. Ryan drags me around to the passenger side of his car and practically throws me in before slamming the door. I look out the windshield to see Trey, Addy, and Daisy watching the scene unfold with a myriad of expressions on their faces. Trey stares murderously at Ryan but when he looks at me, I see fear staring back at me. Addy and Daisy both have expressions of concern, neither one taking their eyes away until the car is out of sight.
Now, I’m stuck here with a Ryan that I don’t know, that scares the crap out of me.
* * * *
We’ve been home for thirty minutes and haven’t said a word. It’s so quiet in here that I can hear my heart race. I haven’t been able to relax as I wait for Ryan to say or do something. Finally, it becomes unbearable.
“Will you please talk to me?”
Ryan turns to me slowly. When our eyes meet, there isn’t a single thing I recognize there.
“What is there to say?” he asks, his voice calm. It contradicts the tension threatening to drown me and a shiver runs through my body. The hairs on my arms raise and I feel like a cornered animal.
“Ryan, I didn’t do anything. I was just dancing with my friends,” I try to reason with him.
“YOU DIDN’T DO ANYTHING?” He shoots up off the couch and I flinch. “YOU THINK IT’S OKAY TO GO AROUND ACTING LIKE A TOTAL SLUT? MY FRIENDS WERE THERE! THEY CALLED ME!”
“I wasn’t acting like a slut!”
Wrong move. His hand flies out and connects with my cheek. I gasp as tears fill my eyes, my face stinging.
“Shut up, you bitch! I saw you, that kind of dancing belongs in a strip club!”
