Against All Odds - Angel's Story: Against All Odds (Destiny Series Book 4) (7 page)

“I’m not. It’s freezing out and I don’t want Riley to warm me up. I don’t even want to go on this damn date with him.” She sighs at my reply.

“Look babe, how are you ever going to get over that piece of shit if you don’t let anyone else in?”

“He’s not a piece of shit,” I snap.

“Why are you defending him? Look at how he treated you. How he continues to treat you.” I just shrug as I feel tears burn my eyes. Honestly, I can’t even tell you why I’m defending him, because after the way he’s acted, he kind of deserves that title, but, for some reason, I don’t like hearing her talk about him like that.

Dana stands and wraps her arms around me. “You’ve got to let him go,” is all she says. I know she’s right. I do.

“I know,” I say with a sigh. “My head is telling me the same thing. My heart though, is saying something completely different.”

“Moving on is the only way,” she whispers. Sighing, I wipe the stray tear that has fallen from my eye.

“Okay, I’ll wear the damn dress,” I eventually say.

“Hey,” she says as she pulls away from me so she can see my face, placing her hands on my shoulders. “You’re not only beautiful on the outside, you’re beautiful on the inside. If that fool can’t see how special you are, he doesn’t deserve you.”

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“It’s true, babe. Mr. Right is out there somewhere, just waiting for you. It may not be Riley, but you’ll find him someday. I promise.” Chase is my Mr. Right, I know it, but I don’t say that to her. She wouldn’t understand.

••••

By the time she leaves I’m feeling better. She insisted I drink a couple of glasses of wine to relax me while she worked her magic. I’m impressed with her handy work by the time she’s done. It’s been a while since I’ve worn a dress.

I went with the white dress she picked, but I paired it with a light denim jacket to dress it down a bit, and a thick tan belt around my waist and matching long tan boots. Dana left my long brown hair down, adding a few soft curls. My makeup is a little heavier than I’m used to, but overall, I love how I look.

I can tell by the look on Riley’s face when I open the door that he does too. When he licks his lips as his eyes travel the length of my body, it creeps me out.

I know I need to let Chase go and give someone else a chance, but I just don’t think Riley is the guy. He’s hot. Extremely hot, but that’s about it. He seems nice enough, when he’s not talking about himself, which has been often. The more I get to know him, the more I see how shallow he really is.

I must admit he looks handsome tonight. He’s wearing designer jeans and a nice button-down top. The cologne he is wearing though, is another story. It’s so friggin’ strong. What, did he bathe in it? It’s so overpowering that by the time we pull up outside the restaurant, I have a headache. I’m sure he thinks he smells wonderful, but he doesn’t. He smells like a perfume shop threw up all over him. He smells nothing like Chase. 

While we’re seated at the restaurant, he gets a call. Once he’s off the phone he informs me that there’s a change of plans. We’re no longer going to the movies. His mates are going to a party and he wants to go. Great. Do I even get a say in this? I’ll be glad when this night is over.

After rushing through the rest of our meal, we head to his car. I really don’t want to go to this party, but I go along with it. The night can’t get any worse.

Around ten minutes later we pull up outside a house. There are cars everywhere, people littering the streets, music blaring. Shit. “Look, why don’t you drop me at home? That way you can go and have fun with your mates,” I say as he drives a few houses down looking for a park.

“I don’t think so. You’re coming with me,” he demands. Okay then.
What an arse.
His comment just confirms that he’s not the guy for me.

“I don’t even know these people.”

“So what? You know me.” He reaches over and grabs my hand, giving it a squeeze. “You’re my girl. Where I go, you go.” I want to tell him I’m not his girl, but I don’t. Instead I sigh before giving him a forced smile. I’ll give him tonight, but tomorrow this thing between us, whatever it is, is going to end.

Thankfully before he arrived at my house, I put my phone and some money into my jacket pocket. It’s something my dad always made my brother CJ and I do whenever we went out. “Just in case of an emergency,” he’d say.

I guess if I’m not having a good time and Riley doesn’t want to leave, I can always call a cab and make my own way home.

Once we’re out of the car, he starts making his way towards the party, not even waiting for me. I have to jog to catch up to him.

As we approach the house there are people everywhere. Some making out, someone passed out on the front lawn and even a girl vomiting at the side of the house. It’s not like I haven’t been to parties before, I’ve been to plenty, but I have a bad feeling in my gut about this one.

‘Trust your gut instincts’, my grandma always says. Knowing what I know now, I should’ve listened to my gut and turned around and gone home.

CHAPTER SIX

Chase

I really don’t feel like being here tonight, but I need to move on with my life so this is as good a place as any to start. Parties aren’t usually my thing. But, I made a promise to myself when I pulled up outside earlier, that I’d be taking someone home tonight. I have to. The sooner I get back to my old life, the sooner I’ll find the old me again.

The two girls on my lap are doing a good job of distracting me from my thoughts. That is, until the one person I’m trying to forget walks through the door. Fuck me. Worst part is, she’s with
Riley fucking Benson
. I push the girls off my lap and make my way to the kitchen. I had no plans of drinking tonight. Now that they’re here, I’ve changed my mind.

What I really should do is walk the hell out of here, but I’m not going to let those two spoil my night. I have to get used to seeing them together, even if it fucking kills me inside.

I grab a beer from the fridge before turning and making my way back out of the kitchen. Just my luck those two are making their way in as I’m leaving. My eyes instantly lock with hers. Fuck, why do I torture myself?

She looks different tonight. I’ve never seen her made up like this before. She’s breathtaking. She always looks beautiful, but tonight…
WOW!
My eyes leave hers and travel the length of her body. Fuck me. She’s wearing a little white dress that makes her look like the Angel she is, and these sexy boots. I feel my dick twitch in my pants and that just pisses me off. I hate how she has such a strong effect on me.

I tear my eyes away from her. It kills me to look at her because I want her so bad, but I know I can’t have her. My eyes move to fuck-face Benson. He’s glaring at me. I tell you, I’m not a violent man, never have been, but boy I’d love to knock that cocksucker out. I raise my beer to my lips, taking a long pull, my eyes never once leaving his. Challenging him to have a go. If he thinks he can intimidate me with that look, he’s wrong.

He stares at me for a short time, eventually looking away. Just as I thought, fucking coward. I chuckle to myself as I walk around them. This is going to be one long night. All I can say is, if he wants to walk away in one piece tonight, he better stay the hell away from me.

I make my way back out into the main room. One of the girls who was sitting on my lap earlier makes her way towards me. Damn it, I’ve forgotten her name already. Her name’s not important anyway. I have one mission where she is concerned. I’m going to lose myself in her tonight and forget Angel ever existed.

I pull her in close. When she makes a beeline for my lips I pull back. “No kissing,” I say. She just shrugs and grabs hold of my cock. Fucking figures. I drape my arm around her shoulders and pull her over to the dance floor. I love to dance. It’s something I’ve always been good at. The girls love it, too.

We stay on the dance floor for a few songs. I’m trying so hard not to think about sweet-cheeks, but images of her in that fucking dress and those boots keep popping into my mind. I’d like to have her wrapped around me, wearing nothing but those boots. Jesus Christ.

I move my hand down between me and what’s-her-name, adjusting my cock in my pants. I need to forget about Angel. Pretend she’s not even here, but my eyes have a mind of their own as they scan the room searching for her. When I find her she’s staring straight at me. Fuck me, if that sad look on her face doesn’t kill me.

My eyes move to fuck-face Benson again. The cock is laughing and joking with his dickhead mates, not paying Angel an ounce of attention. I want to punch that prick. I pull away from what’s-her-name and leave the dance floor.

I’m not sure if me dancing with a girl is making Angel sad or if it’s because that fucker she’s with is ignoring her. Either way I can’t stand to see her so defeated.

Sitting, what’s-her-name plonks her arse on my lap. Fuck, I need to find out her name. I push her off me. Angel’s here with
him
, so I shouldn’t mind if she sees me with someone else, but fuck me I do.

What’s-her-name doesn’t seem to mind that I pushed her off. Sitting beside me, she drapes one of her legs over mine and starts sucking on my neck. Like the others, she’s only after one thing—my cock.

My eyes seek out Angel again. She’s just standing there looking lost as her eyes scan the room. Benson still isn’t paying her any attention. What she sees in that fucker is beyond me.

Her eyes find mine again, and I give her a small smile. She returns the smile before her eyes land on the girl that is currently feasting on my neck. Her face drops and she quickly turns away, moving in closer to Benson.

He turns to face her. Instead of giving her the attention she deserves though, he passes her his empty beer bottle and tilts his head towards the kitchen. That fucking cocksucker, who in the hell does he think he is?

When her shoulders slump and she forces out a smile, my blood starts to boil. My eyes follow her as she walks across the room to fetch him another beer. I wish she wasn’t so damn sweet so she could tell him to fuck the hell off.

She returns a few minutes later carrying his beer. He takes it from her before turning back to talk to his mates. I’m using every ounce of willpower I have right now to keep myself seated. What I really want to do is go over there and grab that fucker around the throat. She may be too good for me, but she can do far better than that prick.

••••

Angel

I really need to get out of here. Not only is Riley turning out to be the biggest jerk ever, I have to watch that girl throw herself at Chase. Seeing them dance together was bad enough. I will admit though, he’s a fantastic dancer. Who knew? He definitely doesn’t seem like the dancing type. He’s got great rhythm for a guy. Maybe that’s why he’s so fantastic in bed.

I turn away from Chase so I don’t have to watch his bimbo dry hump his leg on the couch. Seriously, doesn’t she realise everyone can see her?

Riley still has his back to me, which is pissing me off. I’m not sure why he even demanded I come with him. It’s obvious he wants to be with his mates. One of his friends seems nice enough, and occasionally turns around to try to include me in the conversation. I can tell by the way he keeps looking at me he feels sorry for me. Hell,
I
feel sorry for me.

Finally, Riley turns to face me again.
Oh, you remember I’m still here. Arsehole.
When he passes me his empty beer bottle again, I can tell you, my tolerance level has hit its peak.

“Get me another beer will ya.” He doesn’t even say ‘please’. Rude fucking jerk. I look over at his mate, the only one out of his friends who seems half decent. He gives me a sympathetic smile and shakes his head in disgust. He doesn’t speak up though. I get the feeling Riley treats all the people in his life like this. Why they put up with it is beyond me. I don’t want to cause a scene in front of his mates, so I’ll get him his beer, but it’s the last damn time.

As I start to storm across the room, I hear Chase. “Hey, Benson,” he screams over the music, “get your own fucking beer. She’s not your personal fucking waitress.” I’m shocked. I stop in my tracks and my head snaps in his direction. I feel my lips curl into a smile. I can’t believe he’s defending me.

That smile doesn’t last long when I see the way he’s looking at Riley though. If looks could kill, that dipshit I came here with would be dead. Crap, are these two going to go at it again?

“Mind your own fucking business, Daniels,” Riley responds. My head turns in the direction of Riley. He’s looking at me. When he flicks his head, as if to say, “Go on, get my beer”, something inside me snaps. I feel my eyes widen and both my eyebrows rise in both disbelief and defiance.
I don’t fucking think so, buddy.

I turn on my heels and march back across the room. When I’m standing in front of Riley, I shove the bottle at him. “Get your own fucking beer,” I snap as I turn and make my way towards the door.

I feel tears of both frustration and humiliation rise to my eyes as I run across the front lawn. When I’m a few houses down the street from the party, I stop running, searching my pocket for my phone. I need to call a cab.

I hear footsteps running behind me. I don’t bother turning around. When someone grabs my arm roughly and pulls me back, my heart sinks.

“What the fuck was that?” Riley says through gritted teeth as he spins me around to face him.

“What?” I snap. “Are you for real?” Don’t ask me why, but I start to laugh. I think it’s a combination of both nerves and disbelief.

“Oh, you think humiliating me in front of my mates is funny?” he says getting up in my face as his grip on my arm tightens.

“Let me go. You’re hurting me,” I cry out.

“I don’t fucking think so. What the fuck is going on between you and Daniels anyway? I’ve seen the way you both look at each other. Are you fucking him behind my back?” he screams in my face.

“Please, Riley. There’s nothing going on between us. I just want to go home.” He’s starting to scare me.

“You’re not going fucking anywhere without me,” he says as he starts dragging me across the street towards his car. My heart starts to beat out of my chest. I thrash my arm, trying to release it from his grip. Sadly, to no avail.

There’s no way I am getting in that car with him. One, he’s been drinking. Two, after everything that’s happened tonight and the way he’s treating me now, I want to get as far away from him as possible. He’s definitely not the person I thought he was.

He loosens his grip on my arm as he fishes his keys out of his pocket. I use this to my advantage. I raise my leg and kick him as hard as I can in the shin. When he lets go I turn and run back towards the party.

“You fucking bitch,” I hear him say as he gives chase. Fuck. I don’t dare stop. I need to get away from him. He’s getting closer. I can hear his footsteps approaching. Damn these stupid boots. I turn my head to look at him as I keep running. I don’t see the curb as I approach and I trip over it. My hands instinctively go out to break my fall as I tumble to the ground. A searing pain shoots from my wrist and up my arm. Shit.

Before I have a chance to get up, Riley is standing over me. I look up at him. The evil look on his face makes my heart drop into the pit of my stomach. He doesn’t say a word. Instead, he reaches down and grabs hold of my arm, pulling me roughly to my feet. I whimper at the pain it causes. It feels like my shoulder is being ripped out of its socket.

He starts dragging me towards the front yard of the house, next door to where the party is being held. “Let me go,” I say as I struggle to get out of his grip again.

“I’ll fucking teach you to make a fool of me,” is all he says as he shoves me to the ground beside some bushes. I land with a thud. Never in my life has anyone ever manhandled me like this.

I try to roll and stand, but the grass is wet and slippery. Riley grabs hold of my ankle and pulls me back down as he flips me onto my back. The ground is wet and cold against my back, but that’s the least of my worries right now. This time he falls to his knees and moves on top of me, pinning me down.

“Let me up,” I cry as I struggle to get out from underneath him.

“I don’t think so, bitch. I’m going to take what’s rightfully mine.”
Shit.
What does he mean by that? He crashes his lips roughly into mine. I can smell and taste the beer on his breath. It makes me sick.
He
makes me sick.

My hands go to his chest. Even though my wrist is still aching from my fall, I try with all my might to push his crushing weight off me. Jesus, why is he doing this to me?

He grabs hold of my hands yanking them above my head and pinning them to the ground. I try to scream but his mouth is still on me, so my cry is muffled. I start to thrash my body around, trying to get him off me. It doesn’t help. He’s too strong and heavy, probably twice my body weight.

My heart is racing so fast. With his mouth covering mine, and his crushing body weight on my chest, I’m finding it hard to breathe. Panic sets in with the realisation that he’s going to rape me, and there’s not a thing I can do to stop it. I can feel the warm tears as they run down the side of my face into my hairline.

He shifts his body and captures both my wrists in one hand, moving his other hand in between us. I can feel his erection pressing into my leg.
Oh god no.
When he lifts the middle part of his body off mine, I try to break free, again unsuccessfully. His other hand, chest and one of his legs still has me pinned down.