Small World

MEGAN

THE STOIC looked was back on Forrest’s face. A frown deepened even more as I tried to get his attention. I just wanted to apologize, but my chance was starting to slip off my fingers when he gave me the cold shoulder. I didn’t think he would give me a chance after the stunt I pulled out the other night. I thought I could talk to him to keep what happened just between us because I couldn’t let my friends know about it.

After placing my drink, he left right away and took another order from a socialite-ish woman two stools from my left. Forrest never flirted back with the customers, but this time was different, which annoyed me. What was he trying to pursue? Fine. Have it your way.

Oh, no. No freaking way! This was unacceptable! What’s so special with that woman anyway?

I could feel something shift in me as I watched them interact with one another, and I wanted to claw this woman’s eyes out so bad, not to mention my stupid chest constricted painfully.

“Another, please?” I dawned my drink in a single shot. I placed down another bill with the fifty bucks I grabbed from Forrest earlier.

Dice eyed me with curiosity.

“You might wanna slow down.” Dice took the cash, still wearing the incredulous look on his face.

“The hell I will. I’m losing.” I glared at him.

Customers were in and out of the bar. I was left alone with the socialite-ish and the woman in a red dress that separated us, and she was still on the same drink Forrest placed down for almost two hours now. Was she going with him after his shift? Why did I care?

If Pyke and Xandry were right, he never brought women home unless they lied to keep his record clean. Right now, something changed in his game, and I was beyond pissed that I wanted to punch his brooding face. This couldn’t be happening. Gah, I can’t believe he has a low taste in women! Low taste, huh? Her dress only cost a quarter year rent for my apartment.

Bartenders and waitstaff were busy. Forrest never came back to take another order from me. He was avoiding my existence to the next level. What was his problem with me? He was the one who provoked that douchebag in the first place.

“Asher, I thought you left,” I said as I rolled my window down.

He leaned in and smiled apologetically. “I just wanna apologize.”

I got out of my car and fixed my dress as it rode up a few inches above my knees and smiled at him. “I’m sorry about earlier.”

“Yeah. About that dude. Are you two sleeping together?” Wow! That was the last thing for a man ever to ask a woman who wanted a hook-up.

I shook my head, confused. “No. He’s kinda overprotective over friends.”

“Just friends, huh?”

I could feel my face lit up that he kept it cool. “Yeah, and I don’t sleep with friends. Ever. Forrest doesn’t date, and I doubt if he even sleeps around.”

“I don’t see him as a saint either, but you seem to know him well.”

“I’ve known him for almost two years. My friends kind of adore him. I mean, we don’t chitchat, but Forrest doesn’t mess around with anyone. He’s a good guy.”

“And here I thought you two have a thing because he just humiliated me in the bar to send me a message.” His face suddenly darkened.

“I don’t think he meant it that way.” I shifted uncomfortably, feeling the chill run down my spine.

“Oh, he meant just like that, babe.” In a split second, he was gripping my jaw. “You both shouldn’t have messed with me. You don’t know me, babe. I mean, you’re hot and slutty, but I can find a better fuck than you.”

My breath caught up in my throat. I tried to loosen his grip as he tightened around my jaw, causing my teeth to chatter. My limbs shook uncontrollably, and I couldn’t think of anything other than fear.

“Did you understand me?”

I repeatedly nodded, squeezing my eyes shut as my greatest fear threatened to hit me like a tornado.

My heartbeat was racing, nearly exploding in my chest. As much as I tried to grasp and expel my breath, fear already conquered me, consuming me. And in just a snap, a smack hit my cheek. The strong impact had my head snapped to the side, stumbling me against my car. My hand flew to my left cheek with a gasp before I even realized that he had just slapped me.

“I hope that’s enough for him to get my message, bitch!” He quickly turned around and left me shocked, humiliated, and resentful.

Still shaky, I hesitantly tapped the liquid trickling down my nostril as I dragged myself to the ground. What had just happened? All I could think at this moment was how weak, useless, pathetic, and helpless I was.

“Megan?”

Startled, I gripped the counter as I was about to slip off the stool. I frowned upon seeing the worry and pain plastered all over his face.

Spiral of humiliation and anger swirled in the pit of my belly when I looked at his hand. He was offering me a tissue, and I didn’t know why until I felt the tears trickling down my face.

Way to shut off my feelings for years, yet here I was, in just a little attention he gave, they shattered to pieces. What a pathetic loser I became.

“No. Thank you.” Determined, I wiped my face, slid off the stool, and eased back to walk away.

***

“What brings you back, Megan?”

“I don’t know.” I let my eyes roam around the entire room. It had been three years since my last visit, but this place had been the same—the same warm ambiance, shelves filled with books, white orchid at the corner—a couple of framed certificates on the wall. A new couch set, though, a coffee table with the latest magazine issues, underneath was a white rag. Her regal chair was the same.

“What is your goal of seeing a therapist again?” She kept her perfect makeup face on the therapist mode as she crossed her legs, placing the notes and pen on her lap.

“To start, I don’t know why I am here.”

“Tell me, what’s bothering you right now?”

“Am I a slut?”

Her well-trimmed brow lifted. “What made you say that?”

“I was constantly violated.”

“That does not make you a slut, Megan. You’re an attractive young woman. Men get attracted to you.”

“That does give them a right to get what they want. I hated it when I was too weak even to fight back. Do I need to enroll in a self-defense class? Men are domineering dicks! They think they’re invincible that they have everyone in their grasps.”

“Perhaps, what you need is to set a limit.”

“Like I should choose one man I sleep with,” I added.

“Why don’t you consider going out on a serious date? Invest your time knowing each other. Let your feelings grow on him.”

“I can’t date a man. I don’t date anymore. I would just end up getting hurt when he found out what I did.” I blinked as my eyes started to burn.

“That’s where you’re wrong, Meggie. You’re a wonderful person. Men will be lucky to be with you. Not most men judge women on their past relationship, lifestyle, and sex life. Sometimes men prefer well-experienced women and vice versa.”

My gaze shifted to her. Her shrink wall went down. “That’s not what I mean. You don’t have to make me feel I’m a better person, Mom. I am here as your patient, and I want you to be honest with me.”

I left my old shrink and chose her instead. I trusted her more than anyone, and it was easy for me to open up to her.

She had me when she was still in college. She was like my best friend before our lives had been torn apart.

“But I am also your mom. It breaks me to see you doing that to yourself. I know dealing with your feelings is not your strong suit right now, but that’s why I am here. You can do it. We can do this together, Meggie. It’s time for you to come home.”

“I don’t think—”

“Baby steps, Meggie. Today is the start. And I am so glad that I...” She looked up and bit her lip. “I’m glad to see you again. How have you been?”

The last time I visited her as my mother was when I was still in college. I couldn’t see her blaming herself for what happened to me, to us. If I was far, I thought she would be okay and made us forget the horrendous accident that night.

“Have dinner with me.”

I shook my head. “I need to find a job.”

Her face fell again. Pain crossed her face. I felt terrible for making her feel this way.

“Yeah. I was fired.”

“My receptionist is due in the next two weeks. I could use your help.” She smiled, delighted.

“I don’t wanna work for you.”

“While you’re still searching for a job. You can quit once you find one. At least something will make you busy, and it will pay your bills.” She knew me pretty well when it came to spending my savings. “I know you never asked help from me, but I can—”

“I don’t need your charity. I’ll let you know if I decide to accept your job offer. Thank you, though.” I grabbed my bag and walked right to the door.

“Meggie?”

I stopped dead in my track and glanced at her. “Yes.”

She smiled sadly, and it broke my heart not even to feel her embrace. I missed her every day, but I couldn’t just run back to her because I needed her.

I still stuck to the decisions that I left because I made to stand on my own two feet.

“Call me when you decide to have dinner with me.”

I forced myself to smile back. “Rain check?”

“Sure.”

Once I was out of the building, I closed my eyes took a deep breath, regretting that I called for a session. Perhaps, I wanted to talk to someone who would never judge me. I wanted to open up, or maybe I just missed my mom. I gave myself credit that I managed not to break down in front of her, but it didn’t make me feel better as well.

A yelp escaped my mouth before I even realized I was yelping, and strong arms were wrapping around me securely and protectively. A smell of pine and fresh mint reached my senses, making me aware that I was in a man’s arms. His addicting scent was like a warm blanket wrapped around me during winter. His quick breathing was warming the side of my head while my hands were gripping the strong and bulging arms as my quick reflexive response.

When I gathered my strength to stand on my feet, I noticed the familiar tattoo on both arms, causing my face to burn. A blazing fire. Great, Megan! Small world. My heart was already pounding, and right now, I thought it leaped to my throat when I realized it was him—Forrest freaking Wood.

Forrest loosened his arms around me. “Are you okay?”

This was the third time he asked me, and I hadn’t had given him the right answer.

I turned around, and I was momentarily speechless to see his face in broad daylight. Like always, he was unbelievably real, beyond handsome, always carrying a strong aura and power. His dark, sharp eyes were expressive with paintbrush lashes that women would die for. His thick dark brows slanted as he looked down on me. And it felt like he was always carrying the world on his shoulder.

He had the straightest nose and the full reddish lips I’d ever seen, and never a time I didn’t think of how they felt on my skin.

“Megan? Hey? You okay?”

I blinked, feeling my face flare more with such sinful thoughts. “Yeah?”

“You should be looking at where you were going. You almost hit by a car if I didn’t pull you.”

My eyes slightly widened. Oh, god, what’s wrong with me? Again, I’m speechless.

“Thanks,” I said shyly.

“Where are you going?”

I stole a glance at the clinic, hoping he didn’t see me exiting that building. “I visited someone.”

“You better take care next time.”

I smiled. “Thanks again.”

“Sure.”

When I reached my car, I turned around only to find Forrest entering the same clinic where I’d been. Kill me now!