A Woman Scorned

Part 19

You withdrew your hand, and the forced separation felt like a hard punch to his gut.

"You could have told me about introducing me as your friend, Billy. I would have understood."

Despite the hurt gleaming in your eyes, he couldn't let you get away with your bullshit. "Really? 'cause I think you're lying." He challenged you. "We both know you'd use this as another reason to hide from me."

"Why did you even invite me tonight?" you snapped.

"Because you're important to me, and I wanted you to meet my friends."

"On your own terms," you muttered.

"Yeah, fine. It was a messed up thing to do. I get it." He reached for your hand, linking his fingers through yours. "I'm sorry."

"You hurt me."

"I know." His stomach coiled into knots, his insides thrummed with pain. All he wanted was to make you happy but he managed to fuck it up by being an asshole. "How do I fix this?" As a heavy sigh escaped your lips, his heart stated pounding in his chest. Dread unfurled in his stomach, sweeping through his veins as he sensed you pulling away and abandoning him. No. He wasn't going to let you do this. No fucking way. "If you're about to tell me you need some time or space or some other bullshit like that, the answer is no."

"Even when you're apologizing, you're giving me orders."

"Just saying break-up is off the table."

"You keep saying that but when I walk away from you during fights, it's not for good. It's my way of diffusing the situation."

You glanced down at your intertwined hands, your mind seemingly far, far away. Anguish flickered over your face and it took every bit of strength he had not to shake you out of your stupor. "You worried I'm gonna hit you?" Anxiety surged through him. "I'd never do that. You have my word."

"I believe you," you finally spoke, meeting his gaze. "But when we're fighting or I'm scared or... whenever things get tense, my instinct is to get out. It's not about you, it's about protecting myself."

"Because of your parents."

You tensed immediately, blinking a few times as if trying to get your emotions under control. "You looked into my past."

He squeezed your hand. "Yeah."

"And that makes you think you know me."

Your words may have been bitter but he could hear the underlying sadness behind them. Before he could hold you and comfort you, Frank, Curtis and everyone else came out of the bar. Billy felt you trying to pull your hand away from his grip but he held on tight.

"You guys are out here? We thought you took off," Frank said.