He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back novel Chapter 7

Imogene Scott

My breathing is labored. My feet hurt as I turn left, heading out of the front lawn into the streets. All eyes turn to me as I flee. One part of me tells me this isn’t real, that the person I just spoke to isn’t Damien Shaw. As I head into the dimly lit streets, I hear footsteps behind me.

Tears start to flow freely as I turn my head. Damien is sprinting after me. My heart races faster, but this time it has nothing to do with exertion, and everything to do with that look of determination on Damien’s face.

I continue to walk fast, but rapidly, Damien is gaining on me. I walk for a few more yards, then I realize it’s no use. I don’t know what I’m running from, I don’t know why I’m running. I skid to an halt, finally bringing myself to a complete stop.

A moment later, I hear Damien’s hard breath hammering the cool air. I feel him move behind me. Slowly, I spin on my heel and face him. Both hands are in his hair, gripping the strands. His blue eyes are haunted, tortured. The air around us crackles with tension as we stare at one another, in silence, chests heaving, cheeks flushed.

Then Damien’s gaze drops to my lips and he inches forward. He takes two steps and bites out a few words. “I missed you, Imogene. Did you miss me?”

I take one pace backward and I laugh. Icily, I demand, “What the fuck do you want from me, Damien?”

“Tell me,” he repeats. His voice has lowered an octave. “Did you miss me?”

I squeeze my eyes shut and force myself to repel the pain trying to flood in. Try to stave off this ache in my chest, the ache that tells me I miss him. None of this is real, none of what I feel right now is real. It’s just the pain of seeing him after all these years.

“I have never for once thought about you in three years.” I manage to choke out. “After all these years? After the pain and suffering I went through, you think you can walk into my life again and ruin everything I’ve built? You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

I stop my resolve from weakening as I clench my fists beside me. Of all nights, he had to come tonight. Ruin my big moment for me, the big moments I never got to have when I was with him.

I make to move forward, to leave, self-preservation seizing control. As I do, I feel desperate fingers wrap around my wrist and spin me back around.