Chapter 9
1334 Words
Kimberly:
My entire body stiffened at the sound of Ryan’s voice.
“Kimberly, can I see you for a minute? In private?” He repeated as though I hadn’t heard him the first time.
Just the sound of his voice washing over me was enough to make my irritation flicker to life.
“There’s nothing to discuss,” I spat out, taking a step back from him as if that could somehow erase him from my presence.
He closed the distance I had just created and stepped into my space once more.
“Just five minutes, Kim. It won’t take longer than that.”
“She’s not going anywhere with you.”
“I’m talking to Kimberly,” Ryan shot back.
“And I said she isn’t going anywhere with you.” Noah retorted.
It was strange but I felt like the both of them were about to start throwing punches and genuinely, I wasn't about to watch that happen so I eased my arm out of Noah’s grip and placed a hand over his arm instead.
“It’s fine, Noah. I’ve got it. It’ll only take a while.”
From the corner of my eyes, I saw Ryan’s eyes light up with triumph. The smug bastard thought I had done it for him but really I only agreed because I didn’t want to cause a spectacle.
Noah still didn't budge. He hadn’t even stopped looking at Ryan.
I had to tug harder on his arm to get him to look at me and when he did, he stared straight at me for a long while, then sighed.
“Two minutes, nothing more.”
He shot a glare at Ryan, then stepped away while Ryan led me through the crowd, towards a quieter hallway that opened onto a small balcony.
“What do you want?” I asked soon as we got there.
He took a step forward, reaching for me.
“Kim…” I stepped back immediately.
“Don’t touch me.”
He stared at me for a second, then nodded in compliance before running a hand through his hair as though he was rehearsing his lines in his head.
Finally, he began.
“I messed up, Kim.”
My brows lifted slightly.
“I shouldn’t have cheated,” he went on.
“I know I hurt you and I’m here to apologize for that.” His voice softened, almost convincing.
“You didn’t deserve that, Kim.” Of course I didn't. Was there anyone who deserved to be cheated on?
However, I kept my thoughts to myself and just listened to him without speaking.
“I have been thinking about everything about us and I think I finally figured out why you’re doing this.”
“You’ve figured out…” my face scrunched.
What the hell was he talking about?
“Doing what?” I asked, frowning.
“This…” he gestured vaguely between us.
“The whole Noah thing. I know it isn’t real and you’re just putting up a pretense to get back at me for cheating on you.”
A cold laugh slipped out of me.
“You think I’m with Noah to get back at you?” I asked, dumbfounded.
“Yeah,” he replied, like he had already figured me out. “I know you’re just trying to get back at me.”
For a second, I just stared back at him.
And then, I chuckled.
“You think this is about you?” I asked, incredulous.
“It is.” He said confidently.
“You’re hurt and…”
“Stop.”
“This…” I muttered, mimicking his voice from earlier. “Isn’t about you.”
“Not only that, you don’t get to stand here and act like you understand me.”
“Kim…”
“Enough, Ryan,” I said, shaking my head to deter him from saying more.
“You cheated on me repeatedly, and not once did you feel bad enough to stop.”
“Stop painting it like I’m some evil villain who messed up your life, Kim. I have my shortcomings, but I’ve been a good boyfriend to you. You’re just being dramatic…”
“I’m being dramatic?” I cut him off with a snap, nostrils beginning to flare with rising anger.
“Cut the crap, Ryan.”
“You’ve never been a good boyfriend to me and our relationship was nothing like you’re trying to paint it either.”
“Tell me, when was the last time we had a normal conversation or…or a proper date or did anything that didn’t end with us hooking up like it was some kind of obligation?”
His silence was answer enough.
“Exactly.” I stated.
“We weren’t in a relationship, we were just together because it was convenient.”
“That’s not true!” He snapped suddenly, making it obvious that frustration was creeping into him and that was the Ryan I knew.
I turned, already done with the conversation.
“We’re done, Ryan.”
“That’s impossible.” I heard him say, but I didn’t stop moving.
His hands suddenly clamped around mine, pulling me back towards him with a forceful grip.
“Ryan, let me go!” I hissed as his nails dug into my skin.
He didn’t let go, his face twisted instead.
“You’re making a huge mistake.”
“You don’t want him, it’s me you want. You’re just too stubborn to admit it.”
My pulse spiked instantly and I yanked my arm from his grip only for him to grab me again, holding tighter.
“Let me go…”
I never got to finish before I felt his grip on me loosen.
Everything happened so fast.
One minute, I was still trying to wrestle myself away from him. The other, he was stumbling backwards.
My gaze landed on the figure that had wedged himself between us.
“Noah…”
“Don’t you dare touch her,” Noah growled at Ryan who was still struggling to maintain his balance, eyes shouldering with fury.
Before the tension eased and before I properly understood what was happening, Ryan swung his fist, hitting Noah straight in his face, causing a cut on Noah’s lips.
Noah was faster, retaliating with an even harder punch of his own that sent Ryan staggering backwards.
I gathered my wits when Noah moved again and rushed to stop him.
My gaze darted to the side and I spotted a group of people. One of them, a female, instantly whipped out her phone, whispering to the woman who stood next to her.
“Noah, stop!” I yelled, shoving myself between them just as he moved to swing again.
“Enough!” I hissed, gripping his arm.
His chest was rising and falling heavily, eyes still locked on Ryan like he hadn’t decided whether he was done yet.
“People are filming,” I whispered urgently, glancing around.
That did it.
His gaze flickered, just for a second, before awareness slipped in.
Ryan wiped blood from the corner of his mouth and smirked.
“Still as predictable as ever,” he taunted.
Noah’s body tensed again.
“Don’t,” I warned under my breath, tightening my hold on him.
Ryan laughed softly, shaking his head.
“You really think this is going to last?” he said, looking at me.
“You’ll come back.”
“I won’t,” I shot back.
He didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t push it.
Instead, he gave Noah one last look, something challenging, almost satisfied, before turning and walking away like he hadn’t just caused a scene.
The moment he was gone, Noah grabbed my hand.
“Let’s go.”
There was no room for argument.
He dragged me through the people watching, ignoring the stares, the whispers, and the phones still pointed in our direction.
My heart was still racing as we pushed out of the party and into the cool night air.
- Writer
