Surviving the Storm

Chapter 5

Storm

I made my way back towards Logan, who was standing near the bar talking to Asher.

Asher was huge.

So huge, in fact, that he completely blocked Logan from my view.

I was almost there when Josh stepped directly into my path.

I stopped.

He looked at me, his jaw tight.

Then he glanced over my shoulder towards Asher.

“Are you planning on going home with him?”

There it was.

That possessive tone.

That arrogant assumption that he had some kind of say in my life.

I stared at him.

For eighteen months, I’d put up with his bullshit.

I’d watched him flirt with countless girls right in front of me. I’d watched him disappear with them, listened to him brag about his latest conquest, and pretended I didn’t care.

Meanwhile, whenever he decided he wanted my attention, he expected me to be there.

And the worst part?

Every night, after spending hours chasing other women, he’d call me.

My bedroom had its own landline in the Alpha residence, and Josh knew the number.

I’d never answered.

Not once.

I’d simply lie in the darkness while his voice played through the answering machine.

Whispered declarations of love.

Promises that he adored me.

Sometimes he’d keep talking until he’d fallen asleep on the other end of the line.

I’d listened to those messages countless times.

And every time, I’d felt the same thing.

Nothing.

Because his actions had always spoken louder than his words.

He wanted me to believe I was special while he treated every other woman like they were disposable.

He wasn’t going to change.

This was who Josh was.

A womanizer.

A hypocrite.

And now, suddenly, because another man had shown an interest in me, he wanted to play the jealous boyfriend.

Well…

I’d had enough.

“Thanks for your concern, Josh.”

I smiled coldly.

“But you can leave now.”

His eyebrows knitted together.

“And take your two latest conquests with you.”

His jaw clenched.

I continued before he could interrupt.

“Go screw them and forget their names by morning, just like you always do.”

“Storm—”

“No.”

I stepped closer.

“You don’t get to tell me what I can and can’t do.”

My voice dropped.

“You’ve spent years doing whatever the hell you wanted with whoever you wanted. You flirt with every woman who looks your way. You take them home, sleep with them, and toss them aside when you’re finished.”

I pointed towards the exit.

“So don’t stand here and act like you suddenly have some claim over me.”

His expression hardened.

“I don’t have a claim over you.”

“Then stop acting like you do.”

For once, Josh looked genuinely stunned.

“Storm… is this what our friendship has come to?”

I laughed bitterly.

“Friendship?”

I shook my head.

“Since when have you cared about our friendship?”

His expression faltered.

“If you actually cared about me, you wouldn’t have treated me like this for all these years.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Isn’t it?”

I stepped closer.

“The only reason you’re suddenly interested in what I’m doing is because Asher is paying attention to me.”

Josh opened his mouth.

I didn’t let him speak.

“You’re jealous.”

“I’m not jealous.”

“You are.”

I pointed at his chest.

“Someone else has my attention, and your ego can’t handle it.”

His eyes flashed.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, I know exactly what I’m talking about.”

I glanced towards Asher.

Then back at Josh.

“I’m not yours.”

The words hung between us.

His face changed.

And for the first time, I saw something in his eyes that looked almost like fear.

But I was too angry to care.

“You had your chances, Josh.”

My voice softened, but somehow that made it sharper.

“You had plenty of opportunities to be a decent friend.”

I swallowed.

“You chose not to.”

He stared at me.

“So I’m done.”

His expression fell.

“I’m done with your mind games. I’m done with you messing with my head. I’m done watching you treat women like they’re disposable and then expecting me to sit around waiting for you.”

“Storm, you don’t mean that.”

“The hell I don’t.”

My voice cracked through the space between us.

“I don’t need you.”

I took a breath.

“And I definitely don’t need your version of friendship.”

Josh stood completely still.

For once, he had nothing to say.

I looked past him.

Cameron was standing several feet away with the two girls he’d apparently forgotten the names of.

They’d been watching our argument with wide eyes.

I turned towards them.

“You two.”

Both girls looked at me.

“If I were you, I’d leave.”

Cameron frowned.

“Storm—”

“I’m talking to them.”

I didn’t take my eyes off the girls.

“These two will tell you whatever you want to hear tonight.”

I pointed between Josh and Cameron.

“They’ll make you feel special. They’ll take you home. They’ll sleep with you.”

I shrugged.

“And tomorrow morning, they’ll probably walk straight past you like they never met you.”

The girls exchanged an uncertain glance.

“That’s what they do.”

I wasn’t trying to be cruel.

I was trying to warn them.

“Don’t let them use you.”

Josh glared at me.

I ignored him.

“You’re worth more than that.”

For several seconds, nobody moved.

Then Cameron muttered something under his breath and turned towards the exit.

The two girls followed.

Josh hesitated.

His eyes met mine one last time.

There was something in them I couldn’t decipher.

Anger.

Hurt.

Maybe even regret.

I didn’t care.

He turned and followed Cameron out.

I watched them disappear through the doors.

Good.

I’d said what needed to be said.

Whatever happened after tonight was no longer my problem.

I turned around.

Logan was staring at me.

He was trying very hard not to smile.

I narrowed my eyes.

“What?”

His lips twitched.

“Nothing.”

“Logan.”

He burst out laughing.

I couldn’t help smiling.

He knew everything.

He’d watched me struggle with Josh for years. He knew how confusing the whole situation had been.

He knew how many times I’d questioned whether Josh actually cared about me or whether he simply wanted to possess me.

And he knew exactly how much I’d needed to finally say those words.

Logan opened his arms.

I walked straight into them.

He wrapped me in a tight bear hug.

“I’m proud of you, baby girl.”

I smiled against his chest.

“He deserved it.”

“He absolutely did.”

Logan pulled back, grinning.

“That man is nothing but a selfish prick.”

I laughed.

For the first time that night, I felt lighter.

I’d finally said everything I’d been holding inside.

I just didn’t realise then that walking away from Josh would be the least complicated part of my night.

Because by tomorrow…

I’d be leaving everything behind.

A few minutes later, Logan and I walked out of the nightclub and into the cool night air.

I took one last look over my shoulder at the flashing lights and pounding music.

I didn’t know it then…

But that was the last time I would ever see the club.

And the last night I would spend in the life I’d known.