Damon drove us to a nice restaurant five minutes from my office and we were shown to a table. The place was just starting to get busy with the lunchtime rush but we’d managed to get there just in time.
Once we ordered it was time to continue our argument. “So,” he said. “Are you going to finish being a brat about me wanting to protect you?”
“I was not being a brat. Excuse me for not wanting the guy I fuck to threaten my boss.”
His eye twitched and shoulders stiffened. “And excuse me for giving a shit about you. Obviously I made a mistake.”
He pushed his chair out but before he could get up I reached across and grabbed his wrist. My heart leapt in the worst way. The fear and panic I felt at him leaving, killed me.
“No, don’t leave. Please. I’m sorry, okay. That came out badly. You know what I mean, though. This could cause more issues at work.”
Looking up, he closed his eyes and blew out a deep breath. I didn’t know which way this was going to go but I knew I hated the thought of him walking away from me right now. Finally, he lowered his head. “Maybe it will, but you can’t let them talk to you like that.”
“I like a roof over my head, Damon. I found a few jobs to apply for and I will leave sooner rather than later, but until then, I have to be earning money.”
“Have you handed your notice in yet?”
I smiled shyly. “No, I kind of planned to tell him to shove it one day and walk out. Completely immature of me, I know, but it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.”
“Well, I fully support you.”
“I know you do. Thank you for having my back.”
“But?” He asked.
“But please speak to me before you go rushing in and shouting at the people who pay my wages.”
He raised his eyebrow and took a sip of his beer. “Just to let you know beforehand or so you have an opportunity to stop me?”
“Damon!”
Putting his glass down, he laughed and held his hands up. “Alright, fine. I apologise for the way I handled it.”
“Thank you.”
“Hey, can I talk to you about something?”
“Sure. You want to get together later? Feeling randy?”
He deadpanned. “No. Well, yes.”
“What’s up?”
Licking his lips, he looked me dead in the eye. “Do you still just see me as the guy you’re fucking?”
The waitress, having the most impeccable timing ever, placed Damon’s plate down with a fire engine red face. She didn’t look me in the eye as she put my pizza in front of me. “Can I get you anything else?” She asked timidly.
I bit my lip and looked away. He could call me immature all he wanted but I couldn’t talk to the woman without laughing.
“No, thank you, we’re fine.”
I actually did want ketchup but I wasn’t going to ask for it now.
“Enjoy your meal,” she said, hightailing it off the second she’d finished talking.
“Did you see her coming?” I asked. Nodding, he flashed me a guilty smile. “You arsehole! The poor girl was so embarrassed.”
“She works in a restaurant, Nell, I bet she’s overheard worse.”
I cut my pizza into slices and picked up one. “Not the point.”
“Are you going to answer the question?” He asked.
“Oh, that wasn’t just to make the waitress uncomfortable?”
He rolled his eyes. “Of course not. I was asking it anyway and decided not to stop just because she was there.”
Like normal people would have.
“No, I don’t just see you as the guy I’m fucking. I like to think we’re friends, since, you know, we’re friends.”
He blinked a few times and then cleared his throat. I thought he was going to say something else but he tucked into his steak without another word. Whatever was going on in his head it was clearly eating away at him. Usually he’d be joking around and flirting shamelessly.
I watched him concentrate too hard on his food. He cut the meat a little too vigorously, chewed a little too hard and held himself a little too rigidly. There was no denying he was pissed off but even with the tension in his eyes and his hostility, I could barely take my eyes off him.
To me Damon was perfect. I loved everything about him, even his protective tendencies.
“You okay?” I asked after an unbearable few minute’s silence.
“Mmm hmm, I’m fine. Your pizza good?”
It was but I suddenly didn’t feel at all hungry. Nodding my head, I forced in what I could. The shift from Scotland Nell and Damon to normal Nell and Damon was harder than imagined it would be.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
He dropped his knife and fork on the plate, making me jump at the clattering sound. “What do you want me to say, Nell?” I had absolutely no idea. “Forget it,” he said, shaking his head. “Can we please just enjoy lunch?”
With a twist in my stomach, I nodded. “Yeah, sure.”
I couldn’t enjoy lunch. There was a dark, heavy feeling that enveloped me, making me want to skip the rest of the day and hibernate at home.
Damon