Retribution

Chapter 31 - Stupid Mistakes

"Hey, Lou Lou," he said.

I whirled around to face him. Charlie clawed at my arms, a panicked shriek leaving her when I stepped forwards.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.

My head throbbed with the echo of my racing pulse. Adrenaline was filling me like a flood, seeping into every fibre of muscle and bone.

"I thought we could have lunch together. I finished work early."

"Have you been following me?"

"No. It was a simple matter of observation. Surveying where you visited."

"Are you kidding me? You do know we're not alone. One quick call and—"

"And nothing," he said, advancing towards us. "Your phones are in there—" he motioned his head towards our changing rooms "—which means getting past me first."

"The shop assistant will be back any minute. You're playing with fire here, Adam."

He shook his head. "No, she won't. She's on her break and far too busy cooing down the phone to her boyfriend. From where I'm standing, you're the one playing with fire. Why are you dressed like some cheap whore?" He settled an empty, dark stare on Charlie. "But then again, I guess I can answer my own question."

I stepped in front of my friend, blocking her from his view. "Leave us the hell alone. We agreed you would have Harvey after school today. That's the only contact we need to have."

"Well, I don't think it is. I thought we could have a nice chat over lunch about sorting this mess out and getting back together."

"Did you lose your memory after you slept last night?" I said, screwing my face up in confusion. "Or are you forgetting you're banned from the house?"

"That can be easily resolved. The order can be revoked once we're back together."

"Adam, we're not getting back together. How many times do I have to say that?"

He snorted. "Of course we are. When I agreed to leave, it was on the understanding to give you the time and space you needed to realise you need me in your life."

"Agreed to leave? Are you kidding me? I dumped all your stuff on the driveway, Adam. I think that classifies as being kicked out."

A small, sympathetic smile tweaked at his lips. "You mean like the other half a dozen times that happened?"

I ground my teeth together. Arsehole. Over the years, I'd tried to break free, of course I had. Plucking up the courage to throw all his stuff out and had taken me months to do the first time. I'd raced to nursery to fetch Harvey, thinking he would use him to lord his power over me. When I got back home, his stuff was gone, and I'd breathed a sigh of relief. To my horror, when I'd stepped through the door, he'd put his things back and calmly asked me what was for tea.

"Well, I don't see your stuff in my house anymore. I would say that's mission accomplished."

"Lou," he said, letting out a deep sigh. "You're pushing me to my limits here. I can't promise what's going to happen if you keep refusing me."

"Is that supposed to make me want to come back?"

"No. It's supposed to make you realise that if you don't, bad things will keep happening."

"Keep happening?" I said. "From where I'm standing, you're the one whose luck is going south, not mine."

For the briefest of moments, his gaze flickered back to Charlie, a lazy smirk curling his lips up. "Really?"