LAINIE TOOK A deep breath as she stepped out of The Enchanted Spoon, her belly full and her nerves a little calmer. The day was slowly being swallowed by the night as evening cloaked the downtown area of Draven Falls. Lamps in the town center started to flicker to life, illuminating the paths of those not ready to call this Monday over. The nightlife was just beginning, and while Monday night may not be as rambunctious as Friday night or even Thursday, there were still plenty of people who would bounce from bar to bar and shop to shop, savoring the sights, smells, and companionship. Lainie could use some of that companionship right about now. She hadn’t realized how much she hung around her brother and Josh until they were gone. She had no real friends of her own, most moved away or were busy with families of their own, such as Gavin and his family. Fitz was now married, and even though she knew Mandy in high school, that was years ago, and she didn’t even know her that well back then. Besides, they would be busy with their new married life, too busy to pal around with the baby sister. There was no one who would want to throw Lainie a farewell party before she left Draven Falls for good.
She choked on the thought, wiping a stray tear from the corner of her eye. She would need to make sure she changed that in Bull Creek.
She took a deep breath. Now, what to do with the rest of my night? A drink at Shades? Some ice cream from Sprinkles? Maybe a night at Magic Beans where they were having open mic night? She shook her head. I am not listening to a bunch of people reciting bad poetry. So, what to do then? With another deep breath, she turned and started walking toward Shades. She was just about to cross Lincoln Avenue when she spotted him. Miles. He stood across the street in the shadows of one of the lamps, his arms across his chest as he leaned on the pole, staring at her. How long he had been watching her, she could only guess, but she was fed up. She would not be scared of Miles Hemingway any longer.
She straightened her back, clutched her purse strap tighter, and started to cross Circle Avenue toward Town Center straight for Miles. He didn’t move, not that she expected him to, but she kind of hoped he would have given up the whole stalker from a distance vibe and just walk away. Fine. He wants a confrontation; he’ll get a confrontation.
A smirk turned the corner of his lips up as he watched her approach, which only strengthened her resolve. She stepped up on the curb, crossed the sidewalk, and stood in front of Miles, her arms across her chest as she matched his pose. “What the hell are you doing here, Miles? I told you to leave me the hell alone.”
He just chuckled as he shook his head. “I actually haven’t touched you,” he said. “Or even talked to you. You approached me, remember? I was just standing here enjoying a quiet evening when you walked up to me and started blathering about me leaving you alone. I think you’re a little paranoid.”
“Oh, and like you didn’t slip that note under my door earlier?” she asked, stepping closer. “You don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing? I’m not stupid.”
He just grinned at her. “I never said you were stupid.” He pushed himself away from the lamppost with his ass, dropping his arms to his sides. “I just said you were promised to me. I always get what’s been promised to me.”
She shook her head, giving a short bark of laughter. “You won’t be getting me. So get over it. Whatever my father told you was wrong. Back away. Or else.”
He chuckled as he shook his head. “God, I love how spunky you are,” he said. “It’s going to make being married to you so…hot.” He grinned at her as he started to walk away. “You’ll be broken one way or another, and the breaking is going to be, oh, so much fun.” He passed her, turning to keep her in his line of sight as he did. “Spunky is good, Lainie. It will allow me to pull out all my tricks. I can’t wait to show you.” He laughed, some sick, twisted, laughter.
Rage boiled up within her, so that she just wanted to hurt him, prove to him that he hadn’t won, that he wouldn’t win no matter what. She stared at his back, ready to hurl something at him. Instead, she said the only thing she could think of to let him know he would never have her. “I won’t be here. I’m leaving Draven Falls. That promise you keep going on about will never be fulfilled.”
Miles froze, his body going stiff as he stood taller, his neck stretching as he slowly turned to face her, eyes squinted. “Leaving Draven Falls? Why on earth would you do that?” He turned his body to follow his head until he faced her and took a couple of steps toward her. “Your family is here. Your life is here. I’m here! Why would you leave?”
Lainie felt a slight tremble in her body as she watched him walk back to where she stood, suddenly wishing she had kept her mouth shut and just let him walk away. She would have been gone without him even knowing. She took another deep breath. “I’m leaving because there’s nothing here for me. It’s time to move on.”
“Nothing here for you?” he asked, his head cocked to the side. “I’m here!” He hit his chest hard with his fist. “Me! Your future husband.”
Lainie shook her head. “You are not my future husband, Miles. You never were, no matter what my father promised. The fact that you think you are is why I have to move somewhere else where he isn’t. My father won’t stop, and the only way to get out of his nightmare ideas is to leave. Find someone else, Miles. Even you deserve happiness. It’s just not going to be with me.” She suddenly felt like Shades was where she needed to be with a glass of Merlot in her hand and away from Miles. “I don’t always do what my father tells me to do. You should think about following the same line. You don’t really need your father to find you a wife, do you? Isn’t that kind of pathetic?”
He glared at her, and at first, she thought she had overplayed her hand, but instead, Miles just growled as he repeated the same line he always fell back on, “I always get what’s promised to me.” He then turned and stormed away.
She watched him walk off, her body shaking slightly as he crossed Circle Avenue and walked down Lincoln. Every step he took seemed an exclamation point against her. Or rather, a threat against her. Each step he took felt like a punch to her gut. She should have kept her mouth shut. Should never have said anything about leaving town, even though she had no idea what Miles could do about it. Soon, she would be free. Of Miles. Of her father. Of stupid tribal traditions that needed to be changed.
Saturday couldn’t get here fast enough.
She no longer felt like having a drink and just went back to her car and headed home. Her day off had been a long one, and all she wanted now was to go back to the apartment—Josh’s apartment—and take a hot bath. She slid behind the wheel ready to call an end to the day.
Josh should be there soon. Dimitri had said he was sending his best friend to help her pack up and leave town. Only nine hours, maybe a little more, separated them, and soon she would have Josh to help her forget about all the craziness that had become her life in Draven Falls. Her father couldn’t interfere any more, couldn’t tell her who she could date or not date. She was truly free to be with whoever she wanted, and there was nothing standing in the way of her picking up with Josh right where they left off.
She pulled into a parking space in front of the apartments, still thinking of life in Bull Creek with Josh. She noticed the lights on in the apartment and felt a giddiness well up within her. Josh was there. Her week just got better. She opened the door, ready to make some smartass comment about him not getting his bed back without a fight, when the sight of a tall, curvy redhead sitting on the sofa stopped her in her tracks. Glancing to the side, she noticed Josh standing there, two beers in his hands as he stared at Lainie, one eyebrow cocked. Lainie bounced her gaze back and forth between Josh and the redhead, suddenly wishing she had stopped for that drink at Shades.