Free Once in a Lifetime by Sam Crescent

the lead of the conversation.
    “I’m with him now.” She felt giddy inside herself at how Guy made her feel. “We, erm, we’re together but not in a relationship kind of way. We’re friends with benefits.”
    Pressing a hand to her cheek, Emily tried to stop the heat from building inside her.
    Dorothy squealed over the line. “Woohoo, it’s about time. Guy and you will no longer be leftover cogs on our dates.”
    “It’s not like that. We’re not in a relationship. We’re fuck buddies.” Emily cringed at her own words.
    She talked Dorothy down from her high, and she quickly changed the subject. “How is Wayne?”
    Another squeal came over the line. “Wayne asked me to marry him. I can’t believe it. I’m going to get married, Em.”
    Offering her congratulations Emily finished talking with her ten minutes later with the promise of getting together and dealing with the marriage stuff. Emily also thanked her for dealing with Andrew once again.
    She hung up, pocketing her cell.
    “So you’re here with Guy Jensen?” Andrew Marker asked, stepping in front of her. His presence took her by surprise. She’d only just been talking about him with Dorothy.
    “Andrew, what are you doing here?” she asked, pressing a hand to her chest.
    “I wanted to know why my date left me alone when I went to the bathroom and has been avoiding me since. It has been a week, Emily.”
    His arms were folded, and she was aware of how strong he looked.
    “The date was a mistake, Andrew. I shouldn’t have accepted it, and I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you at all.”
    He laughed, looking down at the floor.
    “You’re seriously going to talk that shit to me?” Andrew asked.
    She frowned, looking over her shoulder to the amusements. “I do not want to cause a scene.”
    Emily gasped as he caught her hands under his. His hold was unbearably tight.
    “I’m not causing a scene. I can’t believe I let myself get drawn in. I thought you were fucking different, but you’re not. You’re just like all those cunts. You wheel us in and spit us back out.”
    His voice was getting louder. Her cheeks were flaming at the accusations pouring from his mouth. They were drawing attention to themselves.
    “Andrew, stop it. I never promised you anything.”
    “No, you just fucking walked out, you little bitch.” He shoved her hard.
    Emily lost her footing and fell to the hard pavement.
    “Stay the fuck back!” Guy said, charging in front of her. She’d never been so pleased to see another man before.
    Guy came to her defense forcing Andrew to take a step back.
    “You’re welcome to the little slut. She’s nothing but a fucking whore.”
    “Shut the fuck up. I was the reason she left last night. I told her to leave. She didn’t want you at all. She didn’t fucking want you.” Guy spat the words out at the other man.
    Andrew lashed out.
    She got to her feet and screamed as Guy defended himself.
    When she’d left their date she had no intention of causing a problem. Guy landed in several punches, and no one intervened to stop it
    All too soon the cops were called, and both men were being led to the back of cop cars.
    Running back home, she grabbed her keys from the drawer beside the door and headed down to the station where she heard they were taking them. Emily didn’t think. She paid for the bail of Guy and was told he wouldn’t be released until the morning. Sitting in the waiting room, she picked up a magazine flicking through the articles.
    The night passed slowly, and she didn’t know how long she actually waited. Someone shook her awake the next morning. She was curled up on the bench and must have fallen asleep last night.
    “You posted my bail?” Guy asked.
    “Of course. I never meant for this to happen.” She sat up, wrapping her arms around his body.
    “I know, baby. I was in a cell next to Andrew. When he finally sobered up we talked a few things out. It’s amazing what time locked in a cell can do. He was