Becca.
From the time I woke up that morning, Tally had been blowing up my phone. I wasn't sure what she wanted, but at half-past eight, I finally rolled over to answer it.
“Hello?" I groaned into the phone, running my hand over my face.
“Hey! It's about time you answered your phone. What have you been doing?" she asked with annoyance in her tone.
“Uh–sleeping. Like normal people, Tally. What the hell are you even up this early for?"
There was laughter on the other end of the line, and it was obvious she had been drinking. “What's early? I haven't even gone to bed yet."
“Of course, you haven't, Tally."
I heard her scoff on the other end of the line. “Don't be such a snob," she snapped.
“That's the pot calling the kettle black. Now, what do you want?"
There was silence for a moment before I heard whispering, “Well–"
“Well, what? And what are you doing?" I was curious about her current situation.
I didn't honestly care what she was doing, but all the commotion going on in the background made me wonder what kind of shit her crappy mother had gotten her into.
“Oh, you know… just having fun with my mom and some other people. You know you should try it sometime. Fun, that is–"
Tally carried on rambling about how great everything was with her mom. During this time, I took the opportunity to put her on speaker and lay down my phone while I worked on getting ready.
“Becca? Are you even listening to me?" Tally asked repeatedly over the phone while I was brushing my teeth.
“Yes, Tally. I'm trying to get dressed."
“Why? Where are you going? Do you have a date or something?"
Laughter escaped my lips at her comment. It was 8:00 am! And since when did she care what I was doing, and why was it that she sounded jealous of me? “I'm sorry.... What?"
“I asked if you had a date or something," she snapped again.
“Oh, no, I heard what you said. I want to know why it matters what I'm doing, though. Since when did you care about who I was seeing?" I asked her, trying to make a point, but the groaning from the other end of the line was making it clear she wasn't impressed.
“Since always," she scoffed.
Liar. You have never cared.
“Uh-huh.... Well, I'm not going on a date with anyone. I'm actually going shopping today. I wanted to get my dad something while I was down here and figured I would do it while you were gone."
“Oh," Tally said, seemingly surprised by my answer. “That's it?"
“Don't sound so disappointed. I may go get lunch, too."
It was my turn to be sarcastic, and she didn't seem to know what to do with the way I was acting. So instead of addressing it, she went back to why she had originally called.
“So about my dad's secret lover—"
“Enough, Tally. I need to get ready, so we can chat about this later. So far, I haven't seen anything, but I will let you know if I do okay…? Bye." I ended the call.
Sighing, I looked at my reflection in the mirror and shook my head. If I didn't get a hold of myself, I was going to end up screaming. Every moment spent with Tally lately was becoming a pain in my ass, and I wanted nothing more than to drop her.
After all, she hadn't given a shit when it came to me.
*****
A few hours and about ten shops later, I walked with my bags down the boardwalk towards a restaurant on the beach to grab something to eat.
It was nice to get out for a bit and get away from the chaos. My mind had been so clogged lately with thoughts of James, I hadn't really given myself time to do much of anything. Not that I was complaining.
James was absolutely sinful in bed, and I loved everything he did.
But sometimes I needed something of my own. Something away from the issues....
“Becca!"
You have got to be f*cking kidding me right now…
Groaning, I slowly turned around, coming face to face with the one person I didn't want to see.
Chad.
How was it this man seemed to find me around every turn?
“Chad," I said coldly as he approached, “what do you want?"
His eyes seemed to twinkle with interest as he stalked towards me like a predator circling his prey. As usual, there wasn't a single thing about him out of place, and even though he was gorgeous—his personality made him ugly.
I was glad he no longer held that hypnotizing effect over me.
“I just wanted to apologize to you for how I acted on the boat," he said in a very calm and almost convincing manner.... Almost.
“I see. Well, now, that you have… I need to be on my way," I replied with a smile before turning. His hand reached out, grabbing my arm and stopping me in my tracks.
“Where's the fire? Can we just talk?"
Jerking my arm from his grasp, I turned to him with a disgusted look on my face.
“Talk? Yeah, no, I don't think that's going to work for me. You see, I have this thing called standards, and if I was to lower myself to where you are right now thinking I actually believed that bullshit you spread.... Well, that would make me no better than you."
Shock was written all across his face at the way I had spoken to him. Never in my life had I had the courage to speak to him like that before. Yet, right now... he was beneath me with the way he had treated me.
For once in my life, I was putting myself above this man, and I was going to achieve more. Because I was worth more.
“Who do you think you're talking to? I apologize to you. I'm offering to let you buy me lunch to talk this out—"
“Whoa... whoa. What did you just say?" I asked, laughing. “Did you just say you offered to LET 'me' buy 'you' lunch?"
“You heard what the f*ck I said, Becca." His confirmation was all I needed to burst into laughter.
“You are f*cking delusional.... Why the hell would I ever buy you a damn thing? We aren't together and never f*cking will be again. You are an asshole, Chad. You don't deserve any woman with a kind heart because you are a cheater, a manipulator, and an abuser."
As he stepped towards me with clenched fists, I raised a brow at him.
“I will sue you for slander, Becca. I have never hit a woman in my life," he replied.
“Well, I'm sure you're lying about that. However, abuse doesn't just mean physical, Chad... mental abuse, verbal abuse.... Those are also types of abuse you HAVE participated in. I should know... I was your victim."
There were no words between us as I stood up for myself. Internally, I was dying. My heart raced against my chest with panic that something bad was going to happen. Yet, at the same time, I felt free.
Chad didn't bother to say anything, and rather quickly, he turned, walking off after he realized he had no control over me. Tears slowly streamed down my cheeks with pure happiness that I had stood up for myself.
Deciding to ditch lunch, I made my way towards the taxi ramp and ordered one before heading back to the house. I no longer had an interest in being out.
Right now, I was running on pure adrenaline, and I knew once it wore off, I was likely to break down and need a nap. Surviving trauma was never an easy thing to experience, no matter how small it may be.
As the taxi pulled up outside of James' home, I smiled seeing his car was already here. I had picked up a couple of cute lingerie items while I was out to tease him with, even if I was conflicted about what I was doing.
Internally, I couldn't make my mind up. Physically, he did things to me I couldn't resist.
Stepping out of the car, I hastened my pace towards the front door. Just as it opened, it revealed a very unhappy James.
“Where have you been?" he asked with a stern tone that confused me.
Holding up my bags, I raised a brow, walking past him towards the stairs. “Shopping?"
If he wasn't in a good mood, I was going to bypass the small talk. I didn't understand why he would be upset, though, because it wasn't like we were together.
“Shopping where, Becca?" he asked as he followed behind me towards my room.
“In town. What's your problem? Did I do something wrong?" I asked with confusion as I placed my bags down on my bedroom floor.
“Yeah, I wanna know what you were doing meeting up with a certain asshole. I thought he was a problem you didn't want to be around."
Shock filled me, realizing he was talking about Chad.
“Have you been following me?" I asked him.
“Just answer the damn question, Becca. I don't have time for girls who want to jump from man to man," he snapped, and the backlash of his words hurt.
“How did you know I ran into him?" I said with my hands on my hips, wanting to know how he would be aware of something like that to begin with.
“I had security follow you to make sure you're safe since you are going out alone. Now, answer my question."
Shaking my head, laughter escaped me, realizing he was being serious.
“Wow, James... First of all, I wasn't meeting him. He caught me while I was out, and I have no idea how the f*ck he found me. But I put him in his place and told him to f*ck off. Secondly, don't you dare come telling me what I can and can't do.... We aren't together, remember?"
Rushing towards me, he pinned me against the wall with my hands above my head and his thigh between my legs. “No… you're mine, Becca."
I was breathless from his actions but incredibly turned on. Chad had never been possessive like this. James was showing me how it felt to be desired, and I loved every moment of it.
“Prove it," I whispered as I stared at him. “Show me how much I am yours."
I wasn't sure what I was really asking, but before I knew it, his lips were upon mine, and our clothing was falling to the floor.
If James wanted to own me, I wasn't sure I'd have the ability to say no.
At least for the next few weeks.