Book 2: Beginning Again -Carlos Sainz

Chapter 32

Erin let out a deep laugh and took a long drink. Marie stood there, blinking, as if she wasn't super sure that he was real.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Erin said at the end of her laugh.

"Oh come on, Erin. We were always chill," Chad said as he approached her. The man Erin was talking to snaked his arm further around her waist in a display of dominance.

"We became un-chill the second your massive ego and stupid fucking face showed up-" Erin started, gesturing wildly before Marie stepped up next to her.

"I got this," Marie said to her friend before looking at the man in front of her. "Chad... what are you doing here?"

"I saw you were back in town from your instagram story and I just had a gut feeling you'd be at this club tonight," Chad said as his eyes traced up and down slowly over Marie. She shrunk down in her posture a little bit, feeling more gross than anything.

"Uh, yeah. I'm back for a while. Girls night out," Marie replied, not feeling up to chatting with the guy who brutally dumped her. Well, the other guy who brutally dumped her.

"I'm actually so glad I saw you tonight, I really wanted to talk," Chad said as he stepped even closer to her, slightly cocking his head to the side. His smirk was in full bloom, and Marie was really reminded of how much she did because of that smirk.

"Well, we're talking! It was good to see you," Marie said as she tried to sidestep him and make her way to Erin. She was quickly stopped by his arm on her waist. She cringed at the touch, jumping back.

"Ok, it's kinda hard to talk in here. Please, just get coffee with me? I'll text you?" His eyes pleaded with hers and she swore she could see his bottom lip pout out a little bit.

Marie looked at his eyes, feeling surprised at the way they bit into her. She just wanted to leave at that moment, nodding and mumbling a quick "yeah, sure" before she ducked out of his way and grabbed Erin's arm. She dragged her best friend out of the club, Uber already ordered in her hand.

**

"You told him you'd go?"

Erin tilted down her sunglasses as she shot Marie a look of disbelief. She immediately grabbed her coffee and took a long sip. They slumped over the couch feeling like death warmed up as they discussed the night's events. It was practically tradition at this point to get coffee and dissect everything.

"I guess so? I don't really remember what I said, I think I just nodded and mumbled. But he already texted me this morning."

"What did he say?"

"He said it was nice to see me and asked if I could get coffee this week."

Erin gestured like she was throwing up as she said, "God, Marie, he is the literal worst."

"You didn't like him when we dated?"

"Are you kidding? I couldn't stand him. I put up with his shit for you," Erin replied as if it was common knowledge.

"Really?"

"Yeah. He just made you into... I don't know."

"No, tell me. You clearly have some feelings about this."

Erin sighed, sitting up on the couch. "Okay, I just don't want you to take this personally." There was a brief pause as Erin collected her thoughts. "When you were with Chad you just became this muted version of yourself. He dulled everything about you. You're this... fierce, strong, badass woman and he made you duller. You were even considering not taking the job with your dad just to, what, make him feel better? He never wanted you to succeed, he always just wanted to be better than you."