Forrest

Chapter 4 Small World

MEGAN

THE STOIC looked was back on Forrest’s face. A frown deepened even more as I tried to get hisattention. I just wanted to apologize, but my chance was starting to slip off my fingers when he gave methe cold shoulder. I didn’t think he would give me a chance after what I pulled out the other night. Ithought I could talk to him to keep what happened just between us because I couldn’t let my friendsknow about it.

He left right away after placing my drink and took another order from a socialite-ish woman two stoolsfrom my left. Forrest never flirted back with the customers, but this time was different, and it annoyedme. What was he trying to pursue? Fine. Have it your way.

Oh, no! No freaking way! This was unacceptable! What’s so special with that woman anyway?

I could feel something shifted in me as I watched them interacted with one another, and I wanted toclaw this woman’s eyes out so bad, not to mention my stupid chest constricted painfully.

“Another, please?” I placed down another bill with the fifty bucks I grabbed from Forrest earlier. Idawned my drink in a single shot. Dice eyed me with curiosity.

“You might wanna slow down.” Dice took the cash, still wearing the incredulous look on his face.

“The hell I will. I’m losing.” I glared at him.

Customers were in and out of the bar. I was left alone with the socialite-ish and the woman in a reddress that separated us, and she was still on the same drink Forrest placed down for almost two hoursnow. Was she going with him after his shift? Why did I care?

If Pyke and Xandry were right, he never brought women home unless they were lying to keep hisrecord clean. Right now something changed in his game, and I was beyond pissed that I wanted to

punch his brooding face. This couldn’t be happening. Gah, I can’t believe he has a low taste inwomen! Low taste, huh? Her dress only cost a quarter year rent for my apartment.

Bartenders and waitstaff were busy. Forrest never came back to take another order from me. He wasavoiding my existence to the next level. What was his problem with me? He was the one who provokedthat douchebag in the first place.

“Asher, I thought you left,” I said as I rolled my window down.

He leaned in and smiled apologetically. “I just wanna apologize.”

I got out of my car and fixed my dress as it rode up a few inches above my knees and smiled at him.“I’m sorry about earlier.”

“Yeah. About that dude. Are you two sleeping together?” Wow! That was the last thing for a man toever ask a woman who wanted a hook-up.

I shook my head, confused. “No. He’s kinda overprotective over friends.”

“Just friends, huh?”

I could feel my face lit up that he kept it cool. “Yeah, and I don’t sleep with friends. Ever. Forrest doesn’tdate, and I doubt if he even sleeps around.”

“I don’t see him as a saint either, but you seem to know him well.”

“I’ve known him for almost two years. I mean we don’t chitchat, but Forrest doesn’t mess around withanyone. My friends kinda adore him. He’s a good guy.”

“And here I thought you two have a thing because he just humiliated me in the bar to send me amessage.” His face suddenly darkened.

“I don’t think he meant it that way.” I shifted uncomfortably, feeling the chill run down my spine.

“Oh, he meant just like that, babe.” In a split second, he was gripping my jaw. “You both shouldn’t havemessed with me. You don’t know me, babe. I mean you’re hot and slutty but I can find a better fuckthan you.”

My breath caught up in my throat. I tried to loosen his grip as he tightened around my jaw, causing myteeth to chatter. My limbs shook uncontrollably, and I couldn’t think of anything other than fear.

“Did you understand me?”

I nodded repeatedly, squeezing my eyes shut as my greatest fear was threatened to hit me like atornado.

My heartbeat was racing, nearly exploding in my chest. As much as I tried to gasp and expel mybreath, fear already conquered me, consuming me. And in just a snap, a smack hit my cheek. Thestong impact had my head snapped to the side, stumbling me against my car. My hand flew to my leftcheek with a gasp before I even realized that he just slapped me.

“I hope that’s enough for him to get my message, bitch!” He quickly turned around and left me shocked,humiliated, and resentful.

Still shaky, I hesitantly tapped the liquid trickling down my nostril as I dragged myself to the ground.What had just happened? All I could think at this moment was how weak, useless, pathetic, andhelpless I was.

“Megan?”

Startled, I gripped the counter as I was about to slip off the stool. I frowned to see the worry and painplastered all over his face.

Spiral of humiliation and anger swirled in the pit of my belly when I looked at his hand. He was offeringme a tissue, and I didn’t know why until I felt the tears trickling down my face.

Way to shut off my feelings for years, yet here I was, in just a little attention he gave, they shattered topieces. What a pathetic loser I became.

“No. Thank you.” Determined, I wiped my face, slid off the stool, and eased back to walk away.

***

“What brings you back, Megan?”

“I don’t know.” I let my eyes roam around the entire room. It had been three years since my last visit,but this place had been the same—the same warm ambiance, shelves filled with books, white orchid atthe corner. A couple of framed certificates on the wall. A new set of couch though, a coffee table withthe latest magazine issues, underneath was a white rag. Her regal chair was the same.

“What is your goal of seeing a therapist again?” She kept her perfect makeup face on the therapistmode as she crossed her legs, placing the notes and pen on her lap.

“To start, I don’t know why I am here.”

“Tell me what’s bothering you right now?”

“Am I a slut?”

Her well-trimmed brow lifted. “What made you say that?”

“I was constantly violated.”

“That does not make you a slut, Megan. You’re an attractive young woman. Men get attracted to you.”

“That does give them a right to get what they want. I hated it when I was too weak to even fight back.Do I need to enroll in a self-defense class? Men are domineering dicks! They think they’re invinciblethat they have everyone in their grasps.”

“Perhaps, what you need is to set a limit.”

“Like I should choose one man I sleep with,” I added.

“Why don’t you consider going out on a serious date? Invest your time knowing each other, let yourfeelings grow on him.”

“I can’t date a man. I don’t date anymore. I would just end up getting hurt when he found out what Idid.” I blinked as my eyes started to burn.

“That’s where you’re wrong, Meggie. Men will be lucky to be with you. You’re a wonderful person. Notmost men judge women on her past relationship, her lifestyle, and her sex life. Sometimes men preferwell-experienced women and vice versa.”

My gaze shifted to her. Her shrink wall went down. “That’s not what I mean. You don’t have to make mefeel I’m a better person, Mom. I am here as your patient and I want you to be honest with me.” I left myold shrink and chose her instead because I trusted her more than anyone, and it was easy for me toopen up to her.

She had me when she was still in college. She was like my best friend before our lives had been tornapart.

“But I am also your mom. It breaks me to see you doing that to yourself. I know, dealing with yourfeelings is not your strong suit right now, but that’s why I am here. You can do it. We can do thistogether, Meggie. It’s time for you to come home.”

“I don’t think—”

“Baby steps, Meggie. Today is the start. And I am so glad that I...” She looked up and bit her lip. “I’mglad to see you again. How have you been?”

The last time I visited her as my mother was when I was still in college. I couldn’t see her blamingherself for what happened to me, to us. I thought if I was far, she would be okay and made us forget thehorrendous accident that night.

“Have dinner with me.”

I shook my head. “I need to find a job.”

Her face fell again, pain crossed her face. I felt terrible for making her felt this way.

“Yeah. I am fired.”

“My receptionist is due in the next two weeks. I could use your help.” She smiled, delighted.

“I don’t wanna work for you.”

“While you’re still searching for a job. You can quit once you find one. At least something will make youbusy, and it will pay your bills.” She knew me pretty well when it came to spending my savings. “I knowyou never asked help from me, but I can—”

“I don’t need your charity. I’ll let you know if I decided to accept your job offer. Thank you though.” Igrabbed my bag and walked right to the door.

“Meggie?”

I stopped dead in my track and glanced at her. “Yes.”

She smiled sadly, and it broke my heart not to even feel her embrace. I missed her every day, but Icouldn’t just run back to her because I needed her. I still stuck to my decisions that I left because Icould stand on my own two feet.

“Call me when you decided to have dinner with me.”

I forced to smile back. “Rain check?”

“Sure.”

Once I was out of the building, I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, regretting that I called for asession. Perhaps, I wanted to talk to someone who would never judge me, to open up, or maybe I justmissed my mom. I gave myself credit that I managed not to break down in front of her, but it didn’tmake me feel better as well.

A yelp escaped my mouth before I even realized I was yelping, and strong arms were wrapping aroundme securely and protectively. A smell of pine and fresh mint reached my senses, making me aware thatI was in a man’s arms. His addicting scent was like a warm blanket wrapped around me during winter.His quick breathing was warming the side of my head while my hands were gripping the strong andbulging arms as my quick reflexive response.

When I gathered my strength to stand on my feet, I noticed the familiar tattoo on both arms, causing myface to burn. A blazing fire. Great, Megan! Small world. My heart was already pounding, and right now,I thought it leaped to my throat when I realized it was him. Forrest freaking Wood.

Forrest loosened his arms around me. “Are you okay?”

This was the third time he asked me, and I hadn’t had given him the right answer. I turned around, andI was momentarily speechless to see his face in a broad daylight. Like always, he was unbelievablyreal, beyond handsome, always carrying strong aura and power. His dark sharp eyes were expressive

with paintbrush lashes that women would die for. His dark thick brows slanted as he looked down onme that I thought he was always carrying the world on his shoulder. He had the straightest nose andthe reddish full lips I’d ever seen, and never a time I didn’t think of how they feel on my skin.

“Megan? Hey? You okay?”

I blinked, feeling my face flared more with such sinful thoughts. “Yeah?”

“You should be looking at where you’re going. You almost hit by a car if I didn’t pull you.”

My eyes slightly widened. Oh, god, what’s wrong with me? Again, I’m speechless.

“Thanks,” I said shyly.

“Where are you going?”

I stole a glance at the clinic, hoping he didn’t see me exiting that building. “I visited someone.”

“You better take care next time.”

I smiled. “Thanks again.”novelbin

“Sure.”

When I reached my car, I turned around only to find Forrest entering the same clinic where I’d been. Killme now!