“No, thanks,” I reply. She pouts and leans her face closer to mine. Too close. So I shift back a little. “Is there anything else I can do for you?” she asks, trailing her finger up my arm.

“No, thanks,” I repeat firmly. “I’m waiting for my girlfriend.” The lie falls from my mouth easily, but it appears to have worked when the waitress pouts and stalks off, approaching another guy who seems a little more interested. I’ve never hung out in a shit hole like this before, but if I wasn’t here, doing only God knows what watching Hayley, I might have flirted back with that waitress. Maybe even let her drag me out back and show me a good time. But that sounds as appealing as shaving a monkey's balls.

Hayley’s blonde friend jumps up and joins some guy on the dance floor, leaving Hayley alone at the bar. Every muscle in my body reacts when another guy approaches her and takes the vacant seat next to her. She shifts, looking uncomfortable. He offers her a drink and even when she declines, he orders it anyway. I know guys like him. They get a girl drunk, take them to a motel and have their way with them. Then, when morning comes, they disappear. I’m not about to let that happen to Hayley.

When an uneventful hour has passed, I’m still in the same seat, only I’ve been drinking water. Hayley and her friend have been sitting at the bar, having a few shots offered by the scumbags around them and sipping on beers. By the way Hayley sways slightly, it’s obvious that she’s had enough to drink. The guy chatting her up stands and offers his hand. Hayley hesitates, looking back at her friend who nods her encouragement. I suddenly don’t like her friend so much. I watch Hayley walk to the dance floor, swaying her hips to the slow beat of a new song. The guy wraps his arms around her waist and pulls her close, making me grip my chair until I feel my fingers numb. Her arms go around his neck, and I see the look of apprehension on her face. If she’s so uncomfortable then why is she dancing with him?

It’s when he starts grinding into her and she tries to push away that I jump to my feet, walking over to them. I hear her tell him she’d like to go back to the bar but he tightens his grip, making her squirm.

“I think she wants you to let her go now,” I say. Their heads whip up and Hayley looks surprised, while the guy holding her looks annoyed.

“We’re dancing, can’t you see that?” he snaps back. His hands tighten around Hayley’s arms and she winces.

“Well, now I’m cutting in,” I reply, stepping closer. I put my arm around Hayley’s waist from behind and pull her out of fucknut’s grip.

He glowers at me, puffing out his chest, like that’ll intimidate me somehow. Is this twatwaffle for real? I’m at least four inches taller than he is with a whole lot more muscle. I can knock him out quicker than what Mohammed Ali can float like a butterfly.

“Whatever, man, pretty sure she’s not worth all the trouble anyway,” he says, walking away.

I go to grab his shirt, ready to break his jaw, when Hayley’s delicate hand wraps around my forearm. I shouldn’t feel the heat where her hand touches my skin. But I do. I can’t help it.

“Cam,” she looks at me through glazed eyes. “What are you doing here?”

If only I knew.

Our eyes meet and it’s strange how connected I feel to her, standing in the middle of this run-down hole-in-the-wall of a bar.

“I -” My words stop. I don’t want to lie to her, so we just end up staring at each other.

“Cameron?” she presses. “Why are you here? Were you spying on me?”

“Hayley, I - ” My words catch again. She’ll know I’m being dishonest. I rub the back of my neck and look away, allowing that to be my answer. Yes, goddammit, I’m here for you! Because I can’t stand the idea of another fucker's hands on you! You’re not mine, but I feel like you should be, I tell her in my head.

“How did you know I’d be here?” she asks, dipping her head so she can look at me.

“Does it matter?” I throw back as casually as possible. Inside I’m burning up, and my fingers are itching to reach out to her.

“Yes, actually it does.” Her words are firm, full of resolve. Her arms cross over her chest, but she sways a little. My hand shoots out and steadies her by her elbow.

“I think you’ve had enough,” I tell her. “Let me take you home.”

Her face contorts, changing from a look of question to one of anger. “Excuse me?” she snaps. Her voice raises an octave or two.

I lean in closer and lower my voice as to not draw any unnecessary attention to our discussion. “I think it’s time for you to leave, before you do something irresponsible like go home with one of these scumbags.”

Hayley gasps, and I catch a movement at the corner of my eye. Before her palm can make contact with my cheek I grab her wrist.

“How dare you, Cameron! Are you insinuating that I’m a whore?”

“No! No, that’s not what I - ” I start to explain but Hayley spins on her heel and walks away. I follow her, grab her arm and spin her around.

“Hayley, listen to me, that’s not what I meant,” I say.

She glares up at me and I see her eyes glaze over again, but not from alcohol. No. I’ve hurt her feelings and she’s about to cry.

Shit.

“Then what did you mean?” she asks, her voice trembling behind her bravado.

“I just mean that someone in your situation should be more responsible.”

“What do you know about being responsible?” she throws back. “You’re rich, sexy as hell, and I bet you have girls lined up, just begging you to get into their panties for a night. Life is just a peach for Cameron Argent, right? Not a care in the world.”

What the hell? Where did that come from?

The muscle in my jaw ticks and now my anger matches hers. She has no idea what she’s talking about, and if she wants to put it all out there, then I will, too.

“I know that someone with a two year old at home shouldn’t be acting like this,” I grind out, regretting the words immediately when her face falls. She pulls her arm out of my grip and storms past me towards the bathroom and down the hallway to the back door.

I groan, brushing my short hair roughly. Why did I just say that?

I rush after her, nearly breaking the door off its hinges when I push it open. When I don’t find her, I walk around the corner to search the alley. Hayley is leaning against the wall, her head thrown back, her chest moving as she breathes.

“Hayley?”

Her head shoots up and she startles. “Go away, Cameron. I have nothing to say to you.”

I step closer, slowly, like I’m approaching a wild animal. I need to fix this before Hayley has another chance to run.

“I’m sorry, Hayley, I didn’t mean what I said.”

Her voice catches and I hear her hiccup. Dammit, she’s been crying. “But you still said it. I might have a daughter, but I would never do anything irresponsible.”

“I know,” I sigh, feeling like a total dick.

She looks up at me. “Why are you really here, Cameron?”

“I came because I wanted to look out for you, is that what you want to hear?”

Hayley moves closer until her sweet perfume floats around me. I memorize the lingering scent, saving it for later.