Darkest Desires [Joel Miller]

9

Couple of days later

It has been awkward between me and Joel. We haven't really talked after the birthday incident and we both have been kind of avoiding each other as much as possible. It was just a forehead kiss, nothing inappropriate. It was a small, innocent forehead kiss that meant something for me and probably nothing for him. But I still couldn't forget how his lips stayed on my forehead, for longer than they should've...

I was working at the bar, cleaning the tables when I noticed him. Marcus, standing in the middle of the bar, his eyes searching for mine. It has been too quiet and I was already hoping he would have left me alone but no. There he was, his eyes searching for me. I took a cloth and tried to run behind a counter but his hand grabbed mine, stopping me.

"What do you want, Marcus?"I asked with a cold tone, turning around to face him.

"Oh, why such a cold tone?"he asked, smirking.

"I told you a couple of times to stay away from me. What is it that you don't understand?"

His eyes were scanning my skimpy outfit, smiling. I was used to this look from men but his gaze made me uncomfortable. It was like... he was planning something. I didn't like his look at all and I tried to push him away.

"Leave me alone, Marcus,"I said, taking my cleaning equipment with me. "I'm working, I don't have time for you."

"You look good in that outfit,"he whispered, getting closer to me.

I could feel his breath in the back of my neck, my body shivering. I could tell from Marcus's breath that he had been drinking. Whiskey, probably. His hand slipped under my skirt, touching my thighs and my bum. His touch made me want to vomit and I tried to push him away but he was stronger.

"Get your hands off of me, Marcus,"I asked, trying to talk to him with words at first.

He didn't listen. Just as I was about to push him away again, another man approached us. It was Joel's neighbor, Billy, looking at me with a concerned eyes.

"If a lady tells you to not touch her, a man should listen,"Billy said, giving Marcus a threatening look.

"It's none of your business, old man,"Marcus answered, still touching me.

To my surprise, Billy clenched his fists, delivering a hit to Marcus that threw him away from me. For a moment, Marcus was shocked but he didn't leave without a fight either. He gave a hit to Billy but he was quicker, protecting himself. For an older man, Billy was a good fighter.

I tried to intervene in the fight, trying to get Marcus away from Billy. It wasn't a good idea since I got a few hits myself with Marcus's elbow. Isobel, another worker, had already called our boss from backroom and someone had called the police. All of it happened so quickly and I was cursing Marcus for even coming here tonight.

We had to give statements to the police, explaining what had happened. I didn't know if I should talk with the police about Marcus. How I broke up with him a couple of weeks ago but he still hasn't left me alone, texting and calling and following me everywhere. But Joel was probably right: I should tell the police because that might be the only way for him to leave me alone. I was tired of Marcus's constant texts, calls and I didn't want tonight's incident to happen again.

I spoke to a female officer who listened to my concerns and she told me to come to the local police station the next day. She gave me her contacts and they took Marcus with them, asking one more time if I was okay. I assured her that I was okay, hoping that they can help with Marcus's case.

"Billy, thank you, for stepping in,"I thanked him after the police were gone.

"No problem,"he said, giving me a concerned look. "Are you okay? Your lips are bruised and you probably have a black eye tomorrow."

"Yeah, I'm okay. Thank you, again."

Billy smiled and went back to the bar. My boss, Peter, asked me if he could take me home and gave me a few days off of work. I changed my clothes and after that, Peter drove me home. I thanked for giving me a ride home and I opened the door with my shaky hands, trying to be as quiet as possible. I didn't want to wake up Sarah or Joel.

I locked the door again behind me, noticing Joel standing in front of me. He had a whiskey glass in his hands, again, but the moment he noticed my condition, he put it away. His expression changed into worry and he came closer to me, trying to study my injuries.

He took my chin gently into his hand, his brown eyes looking into mine. "Who did this to you?"

"It's... nothing,"I whispered, my heart beating faster over his touch.

"Who did this to you, Daisy?"he asked again, not letting go of my chin. "What happened?"

Joel told me to sit down on the couch and I told him everything that happened over at the bar tonight. After I told him everything that happened over at the bar tonight, Joel sighed and got up from the couch, taking out cleaning supplies to clean the wound on my lip. I tried to tell him that it wasn't necessary but he insisted that we should clean it. Just in case.

"You know, you shuóuld have gone to the police a long time ago,"he said, cleaning my wound gently.

I nodded. "Probably. I just hoped that I didn't have to get involved with the police and he would leave me alone."

"I get it but I'm happy you did tell them about Marcus. Do you want me to come to the police station tomorrow?"

"No, I can go alone. You have your own work to do."

"I can take a day off. It's not a problem for me."

"Thanks but I can do it. I'm a grown woman,"I smiled and I watched him walk away when he was done cleaning my lip.

"But even a grown woman needs support,"Joel said, crossing his arms. "I might not show it all the time but I do care about you, Daisy."

"Okay, come with me if you want to,"I said, smiling. "But like I said, I have no problem going alone either."

The awkwardness between us was gone, replaced by worry from him. He sat down next to me, putting his arms around me and caressing my back gently. It reminded me of the first time he caressed me like that. The time when Marcus followed me back home. I pushed the thoughts of Marcus away, resting my head on his shoulder. Joel was tough and usually distant but in this moment, his presence was comforting.

I closed my eyes, feeling the sleepiness taking over my body. But before I fell asleep, he pressed his lips on top of my head.

"Good night, Daisy,"he whispered softly.