The Definition of Fate

Chapter 43

When you have swam in the sea
a lake will no longer do;

everyone else was always a pond

but the ocean was always you.
- Tyler Knott Gregson

"Quentin," I hiss, backing away from him. Of course he would wait until Josh is gone to emerge from the shadows. "What do you want?"

He throws his hands in the air and backs away. "Calm down, Evans. You don't have to pounce on me again."

My face burns at his insinuations. "Leave me alone."
"I'd rather not. So who's the lumberjack?" he asks, gesturing towards Josh. "Where'd you find him, wherever it is you small town folk go to buy your Christmas trees? Does he even own a razor?"

I grit my teeth and fight to stay calm. It's one thing to insult me, but Josh? Quentin knows nothing about him, and to insult him like this--maybe I'm the one who's going to punch somebody.

"I told you to leave me alone."

I shove past him and start to walk towards Josh when Quentin grabs my arm and jerks me back towards him, his eggnog sloshing over the edge of the plastic cup as I collide with his chest.

"Hold up, Evans. What are you doing after this?"

"Are you freaking serious?" I glare at him, fighting to extricate myself from his grasp.

"Depends. Want to come over to my place?" he asks, his eyes half-lidded and murky.

"Why would I want to do that? Not only did you try to make me come home with you before, but then you told lies to everyone in the office about me. Plus, I have a boyfriend who actually respects me."

My heart ricochets in my ribcage frantically and my chest compresses. If he doesn't let go of me soon, I'm going to pass out again. My heart beats through my entire body.

Quentin laughs too loudly, his grip still tight on my wrist. "Who, that guy? Yeah, I'm sure he'll last a long time."

"Yes, he will. What's your problem?" I hiss, trying to pull away from him without making a scene. "Just leave me alone! Let go."

Quentin twists my wrist pulls me closer so I can smell the alcohol on his breath. "My problem? Can't a guy want to get a girl in his bed?"

My vision starts to blur. I'm losing control and I stumble, barely catching myself. My legs start to sag underneath me and the only thing I can see or hear is the pounding in my skull.

"Let go of her."

At Josh's iron voice, the fear fades to the periphery. Quentin releases me and steps away and I sag against Josh. He catches me from behind and his arms stretch around my waist, holding me upright. I close my eyes and search for something to keep me grounded, but right now, even Josh is not enough. Can't a guy want to get a girl in his bed?

"Now, tell me what you just said to my girlfriend," Josh demands and I can feel rage pouring from every cell in his body.

"Relax, man. We were just having a friendly chat."

"Last time I checked, it's not 'friendly' to restrain someone against their will and try to convince them to go home with you, even after they tell you no."
Quentin's eyes widen and he backs away. "Chill. Rachel and I have history, but I get it. You two are a thing."

"That has nothing to do with it," a new voice chimes in. I turn to find Chloe on Josh's other side, her hands on her hips and her eyes blazing. "She said no. Nothing else matters."