Read The Reason I Stay for Free Online Page B

stomach begins its metaphorical descent, increasing in weight and speed with each familiar feature. A pair of deep blue eyes, and a face so frustratingly gorgeous comes into focus. I’m not fooled by his angelic looks, though. I know the evil that resides in that tall, muscular body. And in that moment, when my already bad day takes a sharp turn toward insufferable, all I can think is, What the motherfucking fuck?
    Jen’s head is bouncing back and forth between looking expectantly at me and swooning at him , but I don’t say a word to her. I’m rendered speechless by anger. I’m angry that he’s here, and that my fucking knees are, once more, going weak.
    I shove the tray into Jen’s arms, and keep my eyes fixed on him as I dart toward the stupid booth number nine. Curious townsfolk are all turning to look at me, I can feel it, but I don’t care. Not this time. The truth of the matter is that I’m not thinking straight, which makes not giving a fuck easy.
    In seconds, I come to a stop right in front of him, at the very spot where I told him off yesterday. He looks at me, and his lips—those perfect lips—turn into a smile that would have made my twisted panties drop to the floor if they weren’t bolted to my genitals by undiluted rage. I defy all rules of heterosexuality, in relation to the female populace, by not replying to that smile. Instead, I place my hands on the edges of the table—the exact spot where I found his outrageous and offensive tip.
    “What the hell are you doing here?” I demand.
    His smile drops. He tucks his hair behind his ear, and takes a deep breath. He seems completely thrown off his game, which gives me a slight sense of victory.
    “It’s a diner. I’m hungry,” he says, his tone somewhere between annoyed and hopeful. Hopeful about what, I don’t know. Not sure I care to find out, either.
    “There are other restaurants in town. I don’t know what you want with me, but I’m in no mood to take your shit today.”
    He blinks a few times, and it brings me some pride to know I just took him by complete surprise. My lips turn up slowly in a discreet smile.
    Recomposing his expression, he clears his throat. “I asked for you because I want to talk to you. Nicely.”
    I choke on a humorless laugh and shake my head. “What could we possibly have to talk about?”
    He brings a hand up to rub his forehead, and it looks like he’s about to say something, but doesn’t. Then he closes his eyes, nostrils flaring as he takes several deep breaths. I think about what Jen said regarding him and her panties, which leads to thoughts of how easily I would have, no doubt, let him into mine if our first meeting had been different. The thought annoys and disgusts me.
    “Well, call me when you decide what you want. I have to work.” I turn around, but a hand grabs my arm in a solid yet gentle grasp.
    “Will you please stop walking away? You did that yesterday and—”
    My blood boils over his assumption that he can just touch me, yet there’s no denying that a shock wave travels up from my wrist, where his long fingers are defiantly clasped around, to the middle of my chest. It sets my heart into a frenzy.
    Flexing my jaw, I turn my body and direct a glare at the offending hand. “Let go of my arm.”
    Immediately, his hand drops. He stares at me, wide eyed. It feels like all of the air inside the diner has vanished, and I’m attempting the impossible task of breathing inside a vacuum chamber.
    With closed eyes, I battle to keep my composure. I know I should walk away before he can see how affected I am, but I can’t. It’s as if my feet are glued to the floor, and I hate it. I hate that I met him yesterday, and that he’s here today. But above that, I hate that my heart is going thump-thump-thump really fast.
    “I’m sorry for grabbing you like that. It was inappropriate,” he says. I open my eyes just in time to see him combing a hand through his hair. “But I need five minutes of