Hot Holidays

CHAPTER 21: Ellie

CHAPTER 21: Ellie

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Ellie grabbed her phone and left, slamming the door behind her but even that didn’t block Adrian’s shout. She didn’t care. She was so freaking done with guys like him. She swallowed a lump in her throat. She’d known better, but she’d still gone home with him. She opened the Uber app.

“Ellie, wait. f*****g stop.” Adrian caught up with her at the end of the hallway.

She ignored him, continuing down the stairs into the parking lot. She tapped the app again. “Damn it. Don’t do this to me.” She just couldn’t win today. She held up the phone, searching for a better signal, one the app could use to find her location.

“You’re not taking an Uber.” Adrian followed behind her.

She glanced around. She had no idea of the address or even the name of the apartment complex.

“Get in.” Adrian opened his car door. “We don’t have to talk. Just get in the f*****g car.”

There wasn’t a street sign anywhere. She was so angry she almost broke her finger, closing the app. She walked over to his car. “Don’t speak to me. Ever.”

“That works for me.”

“You spoke.” She got into the car, yanking the door from his grasp.

He got into the driver’s side, slamming his door. He didn’t even look at her as he started the car and pulled out of the parking lot, heading toward her apartment.

Good. He remembered where she lived so there was no reason to speak. She stared out the window. This wasn’t how she’d wanted tonight to end.

She’d planned on a fun night with Alison and then back to the apartment to pack up Marc’s stuff before he came home. Those plans had changed as soon as Adrian had sauntered over to their table. Nothing had mattered except being with him. She was so stupid.

From today forward she was one hundred percent done with men like him. She’d already started a small flirtation with a guy from the human resource firm in the office building where she worked. He was nice and kind of cute. Unfortunately, she felt nothing for him but fondness.

She glanced at Adrian. He had dressed in a worn pair of jeans and a black T-shirt. There was something seriously wrong with her because even though he was being an ass she still wanted to tear off those clothes and cover his body with kisses.

He pulled his Mustang into her apartment complex and parked, opening the door to get out.

“I’m fine. Thanks for the....thanks.” She got out of the car.

He followed her toward the building.

She stopped. “Go home.”

“I guess you don’t learn.”

“You’re talking to me.”

“The ride is over,” he said.

“It most certainly is.” She continued toward her building and he followed. As soon as she stepped inside the foyer, she turned, blocking the door. “Good night.”

“I’ll walk you to your door.”

“I’m fine in here.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I’ve lived here for years.”

“I don’t care.” His jaw was tight, and his mouth drawn in a thin line. “I’m making sure you get to your apartment safe and sound.”

She shook her head. Arguing with men like him was pointless. She walked through the entranceway and pressed the button on the elevator. They both stepped inside and rode to her floor in silence. She didn’t even bother telling him to stay in the elevator. There was no reason to waste her breath. She stopped at her door, Adrian right behind her. She was glad he wasn’t trying to talk to her, but she didn’t like a huge, moody gorilla-man nipping at her heels.

She pulled her key out of her purse and opened the door. “Goodbye, Adrian.”

He turned and strode back to the elevator. She closed the door behind her, bracing herself to deal with Marc but the house was quiet. She leaned against the door, fighting back tears. Why did she always fall for assholes? Not that she’d fallen for Adrian, but she’d been heading in that direction and she still had no idea why he’d gotten so upset. There was no way he didn’t like the blow job. She was good at those.

It didn’t matter. Today was a new year and a new beginning for her. She was going to find a nice man who wasn’t all about working out and chest pounding his physical superiority over everyone else. She was done with man-brutes, especially Adrian.