Begin Again (Beautiful #2) by Tamsyn Bester Page B

had just happened and why had I done that? I didn’t just fuck people in storerooms. But then again, it wasn’t just a person. It was Brody. I swallowed the bile rising in my throat and realized that I’d behaved like a total whore. Even worse, Brody had treated me that way, like I was a meaningless screw, while he was with someone else. Oh God, what have I done? I needed to get away. Now.
    I opened the storeroom door and checked the hallway before making a hasty exit. I couldn’t see Body, so I snuck out and walked into the ladies bathroom to clean myself up. When I caught sight of myself in the mirror, I was embarrassed. My hair was a mess, my eyes glassy and my cheeks red. That’s when I started to feel sick for the second time in one night and it had nothing to do with the alcohol. It was caused by the hard reality that Brody had just screwed me in the storeroom like a dirty little secret. Somehow he’d managed to cheapen it and made me feel like trash. My eyes welled up and I wanted nothing more than to go home and take hot shower to wash Brody off of my skin. I cupped my mouth, choking back the urge to sob. I was being ridiculous and once again it proved that I was indeed a mess. The bathroom door opened and I was relieved to see Huntley walk in, concern written all over her angelic features. She looked stunning in her red wrap dress, her hair tied up with a few loose curls hanging free. Her blue eyes were darkened with worry and her mouth was set in a hard line.
    “Demi, what’s wrong?” she asked, taking a step closer.
    “I – I – I don’t know what just happened. I’m such an idiot. I don’t know how it happened.”
    Her brows furrowed in confusion. “How what happened?”
    “Brody, he just…we just… I didn’t mean to but it just happened.” I started crying harder and Huntley wrapped her arms around my shoulders. “You have to tell me what’s wrong, Demi, so I can help you.” She couldn’t help me. I had to help myself.
    “Brody took me to the storeroom and we…” I hesitated, fighting my urge to throw up.
    “You had sex,” Huntley said, finishing my sentence. I was glad that I didn’t have to say it but somehow hearing it from her made it so much worse.
    I nodded, mumbling, “I’m such a fool.”
    Huntley sighed and our eyes met in the mirror. Mine were red and puffy, while hers were clear and strong. I need that, more than anything.
    “No,” she replied, “you’re not. You have a history with him and considering everything you went through with the baby. I’m surprised you’ve managed to keep it together this long.”
    “I can’t go through this with him again,” I cried, “Losing him was hard enough the first time and now he has me tied up in knots. I don’t know whether I’m coming or going when I’m around him and I hate that he still has so much power over me.”
    “You love him,” Huntley stated, “and that will never change, especially after what you’ve lost in the process.”
    Before I could respond, the bathroom door opened and Sienna walked in. Her eyes darted between me and Huntley and her lips curled into a leer. I swallowed hard, feeling uncomfortable. The look in her eyes unsettled me.
    “Let’s go,” Huntley said. I nodded and walked out, hearing Sienna’s snicker disappear with the closing of the door.
    I stopped in my tracks and Huntley came to halt beside me.
    “Oh God,” I whispered, “Do you think she heard us?”
    “I doubt it, and if she did, she’d know better than to say anything to Brody.”
    As we headed back to rejoin the rest of our friends, I couldn’t help the worry that took root in my belly. If Sienna had heard us, it would mean I’d have to tell Brody what happened when he left much sooner than I’d expected. And I just wasn’t ready. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be ready.
     

 
     
    I walked back to our table as if I hadn’t just fucked Demi like a two-dollar hooker in the storeroom of Nicky’s Bar. I was agitated