The Way You See Me

Chapter Seven

I take a slight step back, but the glass door I just shut keeps me face-to-face with Nick. I now knew he had to have been watching me- he wouldn't have come inside if he knew Max was anywhere but out in the backyard. I swallow. I'm on my own now.

"Why didn't you answer my call?" He asks, his voice low. His eyes were bloodshot and I was honestly surprised he was still standing; he reeked of alcohol and it took everything in me not to gag. 

"W-What do you mean?" I ask, my eyes meeting his for a moment. He took a step closer and my gaze falls back to the wall across from us. 

He tilts his head slightly, and I could almost feel the anger radiating from him. "You're at home. Clearly been awake," He says, turning to motion to the frying pan I had made eggs in earlier. "And your phone is on the couch." He adds. "So. I'll ask again. Why didn't you answer my first call?" He repeats in almost a growl. 

I had to think of something quick, but my mind came up empty. "I-I was outside with Max," I lie, and I hope it was good enough. 

It wasn't. I wince as his hand makes contact with my cheek, as the slam makes a clap sound. My eyes don't raise back to his. I close my eyes, feeling the tears prick at the edges of my eyes, but I hold them back. 

"Do not fucking lie to me, Cal," He says, his voice rising slightly louder at the end. I was pretty impressed that he wasn't screaming. "I saw you. I saw you open that door, and let that dog outside. You never stepped foot in that yard." He states.

I internally cuss myself out. Now what was I going to say? My thoughts are stopped since he continues. At least I can think of something while he rambles.

"Now. Last chance, Cal. Why. Didn't. You. Pick. Up. My. Call." He says, and it comes out as more of a statement than a question as his dark eyes glare down at me. 

"I thought it was someone else," I say, and I immediately regretted it. I just couldn't think of anything else to say, I obviously couldn't lie again. Now I'm probably going to be in even deeper shit. 

He started to laugh. Laugh. Probably one of the scariest things he could have done. He steps away from me and rubs his face. I stay with my back against the wall and watch him. Taking the few steps over to the couch, he grabs my phone, and I swallow. Now I'm really fucked.

He brings it over to me and lifts my chin up so that my face is level with the phone he was holding towards me. The screen unlocks. Shit.

He walks into the kitchen and leans against the countertop as he begins going through my phone. I don't move. 

I knew it was only a matter of time before he saw mine and Dom's texts. I chew the inside of my lip nervously. 

A few minutes later, he draws his brows together. I couldn't tell if it was in confusion, anger, or both. Either way, it wasn't looking good for me. 

"What the fuck is this?" He asks, and as I watch his finger slide up some more, his face contorts in anger. "Who the f-" He stops, and I look down again. "WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS, CALLEIGHA?" He yells, storming over to me. I dare to look up at the screen he had shoved in my face, and I see what I already knew would be there. At least I hadn't saved his number yet, so there was no name.

"Who the fuck is this?" He demands, then goes back to reading. There wasn't much, and I guessed he hadn't got to the best part. "You-" Oh, I guess he just got there. "You fucking- You invited him over- He came here?!" Nick looks at me with flaring eyes, and in a flash, his rough hand is at my throat, holding me against the wall. 

My eyes widen and my body flattens against the wall behind me as he steps closer, his face almost touching mine. "Are you FUCKING KIDDING ME?" He yells, and his liquor breath blows in my face. "What the FUCK!"