Page 56 of Western Waves
Jeff puffed out his chest a bit and turned to me. “That’s the guy from the will?”
“We met last night,” Damian coldly stated. “I’m guessing you were too plastered to recall that encounter.”
“Yeah, probably.” Jeff stared my way. “I’m going to get water, then we’ll finish this discussion at home.”
Before I could stay anything, Jeff pushed past both Damian and me and headed out of the bedroom.
When he was gone, I released the breath that was caught in my throat. I hadn’t even known I’d been holding it in. I felt the heat to my cheeks as I stared at Damian. “I’m sorry about the noise.”
“He yelled at you.”
“Yeah. He’s a bit hungover and not much of a morning person.”
“It’s noon.”
“Right. Of course. But, well he—”
“You don’t have to do that, Stella.”
“Do what?”
“Make excuses for his actions.”
I didn’t know what to say, and it appeared he didn’t either because we stood there for a moment in complete silence. I could tell there was something on his mind, though. Something was always lingering in Damian’s thoughts. He simply never shared them with an audience.
“Just say it, Damian. I know you’re thinking something, so go ahead and say it.”
“It bothers me,” he stated, standing tall.
“What bothers you?”
“The way he drinks, and the way he speaks to you when he drinks. The way he yells at you when he’s hungover. That bothers me.”
“I—”
“Does he hurt you?” he cut in, stepping closer to me.
“You can’t keep asking me that, Damian,” I whispered.
“I’ll stop asking when you stop lying about it, Stella.”
I swallowed hard, feeling chills race up and down my arms. “He’s never hit me,” I said sternly, certain.
Damian’s facial features shifted into the most heartbreaking expression. His ocean blue eyes looked on the verge of despair as he stared my way. His expression alone almost made me fall to my knees and cry.
“Stella,” he whispered, inching closer. So close that the space between us was mere inches. So close that the heat from his body was able to land against my skin. His mouth parted as he spoke a truth I didn’t even think of uncovering. “That isn’t the only way a man can hurt a woman.”
“I… he’s…” I felt confused. Uncertain of what it was that Damian even wanted me to say. “Jeff isn’t as bad as you think.”
“I hope you treat yourself as kindly as you do others, but judging by your choice of partnership, I doubt it.”
“That’s mean, Damian,” I softly said, feeling on the verge of tears.
“Then I apologize,” he replied. “I do not mean to offend. I simply mean to speak facts.”
“It’s not facts. It’s your opinion.”
“Trust me, Stella. It’s facts.”