Free Come Together by Jessica Hawkins Page B

closer.
    He was listening to one woman gush about the hotel when I decided I couldn’t take any more flirting without a stronger drink. I tried to tug my hand out of his, and he looked down at me immediately. “What, baby?”
    I glanced at the woman apologetically, because she’d had to pause mid-sentence. “I’m just going to refresh our drinks,” I told him. “Excuse me.”
    “Wait,” David said, dragging me back by my hand.
    “What?”
    He wrapped his arm around my waist and drew me close for a kiss. When, embarrassed, I tried to pull away, he tightened his grip. “Don’t be long,” he murmured before releasing me.
    I was completely flushed as I walked across the lobby. Since there was a mass of people at the bar, I kept going until I found a smaller, temporary bar in the corner with no line. I’d just put in my drink order when I turned and saw a disheveled-looking Bill marching in my direction.

CHAPTER 7

    I WAS IMAGINING THINGS. Except that I wasn’t. Bill was disheveled. He was marching. He was definitely there. “What are you doing here?” I asked as he approached.
    “Are you trying to make me look like an idiot?” he accused. On his last stride, he pushed a finger into my chest so that I stumbled backward.
    “What – ”
    “I’ve tried to be patient, but I won’t stand for this. How dare you ask me to buy you that house when you knew that son of a bitch was going to make an offer?”
    I gasped and shook my head. “Oh my God, Bill, no,” I said, shrinking back. “I know how this looks, but I had no idea he was going to buy it.”
    “You didn’t know? Bullshit. Did you guys meet there to screw or what?”
    “No,” I cried, choking back a sob. I shook my head adamantly, but it didn’t matter. The look in his eyes told me he wouldn’t believe anything I said.
    He seized my arm and shook me once. “Playtime is over, Olivia. I tried making this easy. I tried giving you space. Now we’re doing this my way.” He dragged me across the lobby as people began to look at us. I heard Gretchen calling my name in the distance. “You’re coming home with me right now, and we’re going to forget this ridiculous shit ever happened.”
    I tried to wrench my arm away, but he held it in an iron grip. I stopped walking, and he halted abruptly to look at me.
    “Bill, calm down, please,” I implored.
    “Why? Afraid I’ll make a scene at your little party?” I just looked at him, horrified by his expression. “Are you? What the fuck are you looking at?” he barked over my shoulder.
    “I know you’re angry, but this isn’t you. Please, you’re hurting me.”
    His grip loosened. “Why did he buy that house?”
    “I – I don’t . . .”
    “Jesus,” he said. “Did he buy you this dress too? Is that what you want, to be treated like a spoiled brat? You’re looking for someone like Daddy?”
    “Why are you doing this?” I asked through a haze of tears.
    “You’re the one doing this.” He gripped my arm again and yanked as he continued dragging me. In my four-inch heels, it was all I could do not to fall on my face. “And I had to hear it from our goddamn realtor – ”
    “Liv!” Gretchen screamed behind me.
    “Stay out of this, you nosy bitch,” Bill called over his shoulder just as Brian hopped into our path.
    “Don’t talk to her like that,” he said as Gretchen caught up. His eyes shot to my elbow. “Olivia, who is this?”
    “I’m her husband, who the hell are you?”
    “Just let go, man, and we can have a rational discussion about this,” Brian said.
    “Great,” Bill said, twisting to look at me. “Are you doing this guy too?”
    “I beg your pardon,” Brian said, grabbing Bill’s arm. “I said fucking let go.” Bill tried to shrug him off, but Brian pried his hand away just as I heard heavy footsteps approaching.
    “What the fuck?” As soon as the question was out of his mouth, David was there. “Don’t fucking touch her,” he boomed, shoving Bill