To Hate Adam Connor

“How unexpected of you. Was that the very first time those words have ever left your mouth?”

“Don’t push it.”

My gaze dropped to my arm, specifically to her hand that was keeping me from moving. “I’d like to leave now, if that’s okay with you?”

She followed my gaze then seemed surprised to find her hand on me. Taking a few steps back, she said, “Of course. I didn’t mean to touch you. Hopefully you won’t call the authorities on me.”

The way she said it…God, she infuriated me.

“Like I said, have a nice evening, Lucy.”

I walked away from her. I walked away and it didn’t feel right.

You must really be itching for a fight, Adam, I thought to myself as my steps slowed down. As if the first round with Adeline hadn’t been enough, I was going to spend some more time with this crazy one. In a car. Where I couldn’t escape.

When I looked back, Lucy was exactly where I’d left her. Her face was tilted up to the sky, her eyes closed. Moonlight looked good on her. Her features looked soft, her slightly pink lips inviting. My feet took me back to her.

“Do you want me to go in and get your friends?”

She opened one eye and gave me a defiant look. “No.”

I tilted my head and waited for an explanation that never came.

“Okay then. Would you—”

“You can leave, I’m fine.”

“Would you like to leave with me?”

Both of her eyes opened, and she seemed to consider my offer for a moment. “Yes,” she said finally. “Yes, please.”

“Would you like me to drop you off at Jason’s place or somewhere else?”

“Jason’s. If it won’t be too much trouble for you, I’d appreciate that.” The fight seemed to have left her and her shoulders dropped a little. I wanted to put my arms around her…close my eyes, put my arms around her, and just breathe.

I shook my head. “You want me to wait while you let your friends know you’re leaving?”

“I don’t want to bother them. I’ll text Olive on the way.”

“My car is this way,” I said, motioning to the row of cars with my head. She followed me without a word.

I managed to avoid the paparazzi by taking the long way back home. A shot of a strange woman in my car would’ve given them too much ammunition.

The car ride was unexpectedly silent. I kept glancing at Lucy, but she kept her focus on the road. I noticed her rubbing the back of her hand on her dress, so I reached out and grabbed it to have a look.

“Hey,” she protested, trying to pull her hand from my grasp. “What are you doing?”

“Keep still for a second.” Her knuckles were all red. “You need to put ice on this.” We stopped at a red light. Unconsciously, I ran my thumb over the bruised part. “Where did you learn to hit like that?”

She grunted. “It wasn’t a good hit. I didn’t even break his nose.”

“Oh, so that’s what you were aiming for.”

“Well, yeah. Why else would you hit someone? I wanted to see some blood.”

On top of everything else, she was bloodthirsty too. Strangely, it suited her.

I let go of her hand and forced myself to put it back on the wheel. “Are you ready to tell me what was going on in there?” I asked. “Things got out of hand with Jake?”

“Jake? His name is Jake? You know him?”

“Jake Callum.” I frowned and glanced at her as the light turned green. “You don’t know him?”

“Oh yeah, I let him force his tongue down my throat because he was Jake Callum. Did it look like I knew him to you?” She angrily smoothed down her dress and then mumbled to herself, “I knew I recognized him from somewhere.”

“How should I know whether you care to ask for a name before you start making out with a guy?”

Her head snapped to me, and I felt her eyes boring into the side of my face.

I sighed. “I’m sorry, that was wrong of me to say.” Her answer had angered me; it shouldn’t have.

“Apology not accepted.” She looked back at the road again. The streets were empty.

After a few moments of silence, she spoke up, “Not that you need to know, but for your information, I don’t even remember talking to the guy. When I got out of the restroom he was just there and on me.”

I pulled my foot from the gas. “What are you saying?”

“You have trouble hearing?”

I pulled the car to the side and turned to face her. “What do you mean he was on you?”

“If you’re not gonna get me home, I can find my own way.” Before she could even touch the handle, I locked the doors.

“Are you saying he forced himself on you?” I said through gritted teeth.

Her face was flushed with anger when she looked at me. “What did you think was going on?”

I processed that for a second, then nodded at her.

“Can we go now?”

“No,” I said shortly. After checking the mirrors, I made a quick U turn.

“Whoa!” she gasped, holding on to the window and her seat. “Where are you going?”

I didn’t answer.

“Adam?”

We would be back at the loft in ten minutes.

She raised her voice. “Adam!”

I gave her a quick look. “We’re going back to find Callum.”

“No, we’re not,” she argued, her brows drawing together.

I ignored her.

“Hey.” She hit my arm, trying to get my attention. “I already kicked his ass, what else could you possibly do? Or what? Are you going back there to thank him for putting me in my place? Just when I think I can’t possibly hate you more than I already do—”

I hit the brakes so hard Lucy flew forward, slamming her hand on the dashboard to catch herself.

“Put your fucking seat belt on,” I snapped at her.

“Are you fucking crazy?” She looked at me like I was the one who had lost his mind, but the yelling worked, and she obediently did what I asked without another peep. Thank God there were no cars behind us.

“If you ever tell me anything like that again, I’ll make you sorry, Lucy. I won’t even care that you don’t know anything about me.”

“What are you gonna do? Spank my ass?”

“Don’t go and give me any ideas now.”

Her eyebrows rose, and she opened and closed her mouth a few times.

“What did you think was happening there?” she asked in a calmer voice when I started driving again.

I clenched my jaw. “I thought you wanted him to slow down. I didn’t think he was full-on trying to rape you, for fuck’s sake!”

With the speed I was going, I’d be back at the loft in just a few minutes. Then I could smash the bastard’s head in. If I’d realized what he was doing to her, the extent of it, I wouldn’t have held her back.

I barely heard Lucy mumbling next to me. “Okay. Okay. Adam, I need you to take me home now.”

“No.”

“Adam?” Something had changed in her voice, so I gave her a quick glance.

She had paled and was looking at me with those big gray eyes.

Fuck.

Fuck!

“I want to go home now,” she repeated, keeping her eyes on me. “Please.”

I slowed down and pulled over carefully.

“Please,” she repeated again.