Page 24 of Damon

“Not a word about the warehouse to anyone, Athena. I mean it.” He didn’t have to add any threats or nasty promises. The look in his eyes said it all.

Clenching my teeth tight, I said, “Let go of me.”

He held on a moment longer before releasing me. I made sure to slam the door shut before storming away. This entire night had been a real mind fuck. I hated everything about this man. Yet the ache between my legs betrayed me. There was one thing about him I hadn’t hated all that much.

It happened, and now it was over. And I would never let it happen again.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

ATHENA

I kept expecting Damon to pop up again. At my door or with a message on my phone. Several days passed and neither happened. I wasn’t sure if I should be relieved or disappointed. I hated that I wondered why he hadn’t reached out.

Maybe he was done with me already. After the way things ended between us that night, perhaps he had decided I wasn’t worth the trouble. That would probably be for the best. We could go our separate ways now and forget everything.

I had more important things to focus on anyway. Like the job interview I had this afternoon for a potential substitute teacher position at a local junior high school. It wasn’t much, and I would likely still have to supplement my income somehow, but it was a place to start.

“What about this one? Does it say teacher? I’m definitely going to have to buy some new clothes if I get this job.” Standing in front of my phone so Codie could see the outfit I held up, I awaited her opinion. She always dressed well for every occasion, and I trusted her to give me some solid guidance.

She called me for a video chat immediately once I told her about my job interview. I appreciated that I could always count on my friends to be there for me in a time of need. And this was certainly one of those times. I felt like a fish out of water trying to get ready for this interview.

“I like the skirt,” she said, leaning closer to her phone, as if that would help her see better. “Maybe try pairing it with a long sleeved top instead. And do not wear those boots with the five inch heels.”

I tried to look offended but failed. “I was not going to wear those boots. I have some perfectly nice flats that will look both modest and professional.”

“You mean those old lady shoes you save for funerals and stuff? I guess that will do for now.” Codie snickered, pausing before asking, “Still nothing? I find it hard to believe he hasn’t said or done anything after what happened.”

Yep, all of my friends knew. Those four girls were like sisters to me. I told them everything. Besides, I didn’t see any point in keeping what happened between Damon and me a secret. I wasn’t ashamed, although at times I thought maybe I should be. He was such a fucking jerk.

“Nope. Nothing at all. It’s probably better that way. I can’t imagine that man will bring anything but trouble with him.” Turning away from my phone, I tossed the shirt I was holding onto the bed before reaching into the closet to find something with longer sleeves.

“You like it though, don’t you?” There was amusement in Codie’s voice. “You did say he was the best you’ve ever had. Coming from you, that’s some pretty high praise.”

My face flamed red hot. I turned back toward my phone to find her smirking at me. “Don’t make me regret sharing that with you. And do not ever let Damon know I said that.”

Codie mimed zipping her lips shut and throwing away the key. “Your secret is safe with me. Anyway, we’re having a barbeque tonight. Just a casual get together with friends. You should come by. Damon might be there.”

“I’m on board with the free food,” I said. “I don’t care about Damon. He’s the last person I want to see right now.”

“Yeah… right. If you say so. Come by around seven or whenever you’re done with your interview. Good luck with that. I’ll be rooting for you.” She blew me a kiss before ending the video call.

Having decided on the outfit I would wear, I showered and did light, neutral makeup before gathering my hair up in a clip. Damon was far from my mind as I drove to the interview. Now my thoughts were dominated by worries and concerns related to my chosen career path.

What if the interviewer didn’t like me? What if I did get a job teaching and decided I hated it after all? Choosing what had felt like a safe, solid path may not have been the right decision after all. I knew teaching wasn’t glamorous, but it was rewarding. Not something that would make me rich yet would leave me satisfied at the end of the day.

Was it too safe though? Would it be enough?

I arrived at the small coffee shop where the lady interviewing me had wanted to meet. Deciding that if it was meant to be it would be, I strolled inside with my head held high and a friendly smile on my face.

Overall, I thought the interview went well. She asked me typical questions about myself and my career goals. I did my best to answer them honestly and thoughtfully. Yet as the interview came to an end, I found myself second-guessing everything again.

Going over to Codie’s for a barbeque with my friends sounded like a great way to unwind from the stress of the day. First I went home to change into something more casual. A knee length skirt that flowed around my legs when I walked paired with a crop top perfect for the hot summer weather. I pulled my hair out of the clip, letting it fall down my back. Exchanging my boring flats for a pair of cute sandals, I left my apartment with a bounce in my step. My friends would help me make sense of everything.

When I arrived at the house where Codie and her fiancé Stray Hurley lived, I was happy to discover that Damon wasn’t there. There were a handful of people hanging out, drinking and snacking before the food was ready. Storm and Ripley were already there, seated on the backyard patio furniture with Codie. I squeezed in with them, gratefully accepting the hard iced tea Codie offered.

“How was the interview?” Storm asked, her blue eyes alight with genuine interest.

I sat back against the cushion behind me, releasing an exhausted sigh. “I don’t know. I mean, I think it was okay. The lady was nice and all. It felt like I was answering her questions properly.”