Page 23 of Reed

I glance over her shoulder. She’s lost in her phone, scrolling through social media.

Then, I see the tiny shift in her posture. Her shoulders tighten and thumb slows.

She knows I’m here, but doesn’t turn around.

She keeps scrolling like nothing’s changed, like she’s not suddenly very aware of the man towering over her.

I let it sit for a moment. Let the silence stretch long enough for her to wonder if I’ll say anything at all.

Then I lean in, just enough to let my breath brush her ear. “Hey.”

She stiffens again, just enough to let me know she hears me, but still doesn’t glance over her shoulder.

Her voice is calm, steady, like she’s used to pretending nothing’s wrong. “Hey,” she says back, not turning.

I can almost feel the resistance coursing through her body as she fights the urge to look at me. She doesn’t, not yet.

Good. I like that. The waiting, the quiet control.

The line moves forward. The barista calls out an order, the smell of coffee fills the air around us, but all I see is her. The way her fingers hover over her phone, like she’s holding onto it to stay grounded.

I want to reach out and touch her hair. Brush that stray lock behind her ear again, but before I do…

“Lexie!” A douche bag in short dress shorts and a button-down Hawaiian shirt walks up beside her and I have to refrain from yanking him back by the collar.

Who the fuck is this tool?

“Oh, hi, Johnny.” She says.

Johnny, definitely a douche bag name. It fits.

He hands her a piece of paper and I peek over to see what it is but before I can read it he says. “If you’re not doing anything tonight we are having a party at my buddie’s frat house.”

I can’t see her face but I can tell she’s smiling when she says “You know what, I’m actually not doing anything tonight. This sounds like fun. I’ll be there.”

The. Fuck. You. Will. Not on my fucking watch.

Johnny gives her a cheesy grin, “Great! I’m looking forward to it.” he says before he walks off.

The only thing he needs to look forward to is my fist in his face.

Once he’s out of hearing shot, I close the distance between Lexie and bend down to her ear, making her flinch.

“You’re not going to that party.”

That makes her spin and turn towards me. “Excuse me?” She looks shocked with her wide blue eyes looking up at me.

“You’re not going to that party tonight.” I repeat and her mouth drops as the line moves again. I break eye contact and nod to the counter. “It’s your turn to order.”

She turns towards the barista and puts in her order. As she goes to pull her wallet out, I say. “I got it.” She goes to protest and I pin her with a look, before putting my order in and paying for all of our stuff.

She walks off and sits at a round table off to the side to wait on her drink, I sit next to her and lean back in the small chair.

Cutting her eyes to me she squints, “I’m going tonight.”

I smirk, “No, Honeybee, you’re not.”

She leans in closer and whispers while tucking her finger under my chain and tugging lightly, “I don’t know who you think you are, but I don’t have to listen to you.“ She sweetly smiles at me and tugs on the chain one last time before sitting up straight.