Page 14 of Damon
ATHENA
“How is the job hunt going? Will you be teaching a classroom full of little ones in the fall?” Storm studied me over the rim of her coffee mug. With the tip of her pinky finger, she swiped some whipped cream from her bottom lip.
Using my straw to stir my iced coffee, I pressed my lips together, considering her question. “I have no idea. Probably not if I don’t find something soon. There’s not a whole lot of job opportunities in Wintervale. I did find a few openings for a substitute teacher, but that won’t be full-time. I need something more than that.”
Becoming a teacher had felt like a good idea when I’d first started my studies. Now that my school days were over and I was thrust into the real world, I wasn’t sure it had been the right choice.
Storm and I sat in a small café downtown. After school ended, we had promised one another we would do this on a regular basis. To make sure that we never lost touch. We’d been best friends for as long as I could remember. Always there for one another in the good and the bad times. I didn’t want that to ever change.
“Maybe you could pick up some tutoring gigs as well. I’m sure there are always kids that need one. You’ll figure it out. You always do.” Picking up the muffin on her plate, Storm held it out toward me. “Do you want half? It’s your favorite.”
I wasn’t the type to turn down a chocolate chip muffin. However, my appetite had been erratic for the past two days. Since the night Damon chased me through the graveyard forest, it was all I’d been able to think about. I was dying to tell Storm all about it, needing to get it off my chest and share with someone I trusted. Yet every time I got the opportunity, I held back.
“No thanks. I’m not hungry right now. I ate earlier. Enjoy it for me.” I racked my brain for a way to start the conversation I wanted to have. How did I even begin to tell my best friend that Damon Price had forced me into the most fucked up deal?
Storm would understand. I knew that. She had experience of her own with an unhinged man. Of course, she’d ended up marrying him, which was where we were wildly different.
“What’s up with you today?” She nibbled a piece of muffin. The top piece, which we all know is the best. “You feel off. Like you’re not your usual self. You haven’t even told me any crazy dating stories since I arrived.”
Now was my chance. If I didn’t tell her and get this out, I never would. Keeping it to myself was going to make me explode.
“I do have a pretty crazy story from the other night actually,” I began. “I’m still trying to wrap my mind around it because it’s so unhinged.”
“Do tell.” Storm perked up, her perfect eyebrows rising. She listened attentively as I spoke, twisting a lock of deep red hair around her finger. When I got to the part where Damon grabbed me outside the restaurant, her jaw dropped open.
Several times while telling my story I was tempted to stop. She was going to think I was insane for agreeing to his terms. What other choice did I have?
While telling her about the deal Damon forced me into, I glanced up from my drink to find her watching me with a neutral expression. No judgment. I finished off with what he did to me when we were back in the graveyard, editing it down to avoid any details.
“Then he took me home.” There. That felt better. Sharing with someone I trusted lightened the load I’d been carrying.
Storm took a long drink from her coffee, processing what she had heard. With a slow shake of her head, she said, “Well damn. I always felt like Damon was a guy with an edge, but I never imagined he’d do something like that. He didn’t hurt you though?”
“Other than the blisters and cuts on my feet from running barefoot through the forest, no. He didn’t.” The memory of being trapped beneath him in the grass while he voraciously licked me sent a shock of heat through my body. I hated how he’d affected me that way. No man should have that kind of power over a woman.
“And he turned on Andy.” Storm laughed softly. “It kind of sounds like Damon planned this all along. How absolutely diabolical.”
My mouth went dry. Taking a sip of my drink, I mulled this over. He would have to be an actual maniac to do something like that.
“Think he’s some kind of psychopath? Should I be worried?” There was no doubt in my mind that Damon Price was not sane. Yet I didn’t feel afraid. Not anymore. He had the opportunity to seriously hurt me, and he hadn’t.
“I’m probably not the best judge of character.” A rueful grin lit up Storm’s face, reaching her blue eyes. “I say see how it all plays out, unless you’re afraid of him, which in that case I can let Rebel know that he’s a problem. It’s really all up to you, Athena. How do you want to handle this?”
“I don’t think we need to tell Rebel about any of this,” I said quickly. “This needs to stay between us. Girl talk, you know?”
“Absolutely. I’m always here for you, girl. Don’t do anything you really don’t want to do. Damon might think he’s calling the shots but you’re the one who’s really in control. He went to a lot of trouble to get you in this position. Don’t forget that.”
Storm’s words were meant to comfort and reassure me. They did exactly the opposite.
What exactly were his intentions here? And why me?
The text tone on my phone jerked me from my thoughts. I pulled it from my purse to find a steamy message from a guy I’d hooked up with in the past. Kind of a friend with benefits. He wanted to know if I was available to get together tonight.
My initial reaction was to tell him that I was busy. Then I thought about Damon and decided that he couldn’t stop me from living my life. I typed back a quick text telling my hook up I would come by later that evening.
I felt better after my visit with Storm. Telling my best friend everything had eased the mental weight. Shoving all thoughts of Damon aside, I went home to get ready for my date tonight.
Even though the guy I was seeing tonight was nobody special in the grand scheme of things, I found myself putting in extra effort. Curling my brown locks. Spending extra time on my makeup. Neutral colors on my eyes with a pop of red lips.
