Her Possessive Guard

When she returned home the next day, Kara found the apartment silent. Usually, Megan was already in, singing off-key to her favorite playlist.

Wondering where she was, Kara entered the apartment and closed the door behind her. Adam wasn’t there either.

She put her bag down on the couch in the living room and stretched her arms above her head. She was exhausted.

Slightly relieved that she had some time to herself, she went into her bedroom, placed her phone on the table, and headed straight for the bed.

She was just about to take the comforter off to slip underneath it when the doorbell rang. Assuming it was Megan, she went back into the living room, walked to the door, and answered it.

Adam stood inches away, grocery bags in his hand. Before Kara could say a word, he had stepped inside the apartment, barely glancing at her.

Her lips pinched at his behavior, she slammed the door harder than necessary after him and glared at his back, watching as he emptied the contents on the kitchen counter.

Fruits, milk, chips, sliced veggies.

Wow, he had purchased a lot of stuff.

She was almost about to ask him why he had bought so much and where Megan was, but she stopped when she remembered the cursory glance he had given her.

He could go do whatever he wanted. Megan would see to it. It wasn’t her job.

She turned around and went back to her room, intent on getting a bit of sleep before Megan showed up. She hadn’t called Kara or left a message, which was something she usually did.

Untying her hair and lightly massaging her scalp, Kara slipped under the sheets and closed her eyes. She could still hear Adam shuffling around in the kitchen.

Turning on her side, she snuggled deeper. After a few moments, everything was quiet.

She had just begun to drift off when she heard her phone buzz, alerting the arrival of a message.

Groaning, Kara sat up and reached for her phone. Her eyes literally popped open at the sight of the name of the sender.

It was Max!

Her heart beating ridiculously fast, she clicked the message to view it.

Hey.

What the—

He hadn’t texted her in so freaking long! Why was he texting her now? Just when she was trying to get over him.

Wondering how she ought to respond, Kara sat up straighter and pushed her hair away from her face. She stared at the screen for a moment and then typed out.

Hey.

She hit send and then waited.

His reply was almost instantaneous.

I’ve missed you. Can we meet up?

She felt like an idiot when her lips lifted in a smile as she read the words. This was stupid. What could he possibly want?

Kara got off the bed and began pacing, her fingers clenching and unclenching unconsciously. Meet up with him? That didn’t sound like such a good idea.

She stopped.

But they were friends, right? He’d been there for her before Karen had happened, and that counted for something. Didn’t it?

Her phone buzzed again. He had texted.

Kara, please.

She shook her head in frustration. Why wasn’t Megan there when she needed her?

Maybe she could go. Get it over with. For old times’ sake.

She typed out a reply.

Okay.

She sat back down on her bed, and her phone buzzed.

Thanks, Kay. Simmons Fitzrovia at 7 pm?

Kara paused. He wanted to meet at a bar? She was thinking more along the lines of a quiet coffee or something.

She shrugged. What did it matter? She wasn’t going to rekindle her friendship with him. This was just a casual meeting.

Okay, I’ll be there.

He sent her a smiley in response.

Kara slept back down on the bed and threw her arm over her eyes.

This was going to be a long evening.

***

It was six forty-five pm when she left the apartment. The bar was a six-minute walk away.

Kara had dressed in a pair of light blue jeans and a white sleeveless T-shirt with a frayed denim jacket. She had tied her hair in a high ponytail with a pair of dangling pearl earrings.

Her outfit wasn’t gaudy, and she thought it was perfectly suited for an evening at the bar. At least she hoped it was.

Megan hadn’t returned home, but she had messaged Kara a while back saying that she was busy with some paper that she had to do with a group in class.

Kara had replied, telling her that she was about to meet Max. But Megan hadn’t responded yet.

When she reached the bar, Kara checked her phone to see if Max had messaged her. He hadn’t.

Taking a deep breath, Kara stiffened her spine. She hadn’t been to this place before, but the word around was that it was the perfect place for a night out or to have a drink after work.

She pushed open the door and walked in. The aroma of food and drink wafted toward her. She stepped in further and looked around. The place had wooden floors and was bright and airy.

There were neon lights all around the room, and when Kara looked more closely, she saw the funky wallpaper over the walls. The tables were mostly occupied with couples and groups of young people.

To her right, she saw a few people dressed in suits and professional outfits, laughing and passing drinks around.

The light bounced off something shiny, and Kara looked up. A sparkling mirrored skull disco ball hung overhead, in the center of the room.

She had just taken a step ahead when she heard a familiar voice.

Looking away, she caught sight of Max. He was at the bar speaking to the bartender. He was seated on a high stool, and then he turned to the side and smiled at the woman next to him.

Kara’s stomach dropped.

It was Karen.

She was dressed in a little red dress with high heels, and her hair hung down her back in glossy waves.

Crap.

Moving on autopilot, Kara was about to turn around and get the hell out of there when Max looked back and spotted her.

“Kay!”

She almost winced when Karen’s eyes landed on her. She felt underdressed and way out of her league when her eyes ran along her body and narrowed in what she thought was disdain and contempt.

Max was already gesturing to her to come over. Not wanting to seem rude, Kara pasted a smile on her lips and went to him, her stomach churning with every step.

When she neared them, she almost gagged at the smell of beer. Max reeked of it.

Max pulled her into a hug, her face pressed into his neck. He stank of sweat and drink. How was Karen even sleeping with this guy?

“Nice to see you too, Max,” she said when he finally let her go, keeping possession of her hands in his.

He smiled at her, the goofy smile she had once loved. Now, she found his presence disconcerting. From her peripheral vision, she was aware of Karen's eyes shooting daggers at her.

God, she had the wrong impression if she thought Kara wanted Max. Karen could keep him.

“Kara, this is Karen. Karen, Karaaa,” Max slurred as he made the introduction.

“Hey, you guys have rhyming names!” he declared suddenly and loudly, hiccupping toward the end.

Kara fought not to cringe at the display he was setting up. People were already beginning to look their way.

Kara looked at the girl next to Max and gave her a smile.

“I don’t think we’ve met outside class,” she removed her hand from Max’s and extended it to her.

Karen merely glanced at her hand and nodded her head. “I don’t think we have.”

Kara felt a kick to her stomach when Karen ignored her outstretched hand and turned to Max, placing her hand behind his neck.

“How long are we staying, babe?”

Her cheeks burning at the obvious insult, Kara brought her hand to her side. To her annoyance, Max still hadn’t let go of her.

“Kara has just arrived! Let’s get her a drink,” he slapped his hand on the counter. The bartender looked at him and nodded.

Kara wanted to slap him. What happened to asking her what she’d like to drink?

She watched as Karen suddenly got off her chair and sidled toward Max, plastering her body to his side, her hand on his neck sifting through his hair. Her gaze zeroed in on Kara and hardened.

“So, do you have a boyfriend?”

Kara’s already warmed cheeks turned fiery red.

“No, I don’t.”

Karen smirked. “So, you and Max haven’t slept together?”

On hearing his name, Max looked up and glanced between the two of them before his eyebrows shot up.

“What? Me and Kara? No fucking way,” he laughed, throwing his head back. “She isn’t even my type. I mean, look at her.” He gestured, his eyes wide in disbelief.

Kara felt her skin go cold when the bartender paused while wiping the counter and looked their way.

“Excuse me?” she stuttered, humiliation washing over her.

Max pushed himself straight and brought her hand to his chest. Next to him, Karen shook with silent laughter, her hand coming to rest on Max’s thigh.

Kara wanted to be swallowed whole by the floor.

“Kara, let me tell you something,” he said solemnly, looking into her eyes.

She saw the couple who had their table next to the bar look over curiously.

Her heart was beating twice as fast, and she wanted to get out of there.

“I know you are in love with me. I’ve known it for quite a while now.”

Kara flushed when Karen looked up and laughed even harder, a single tear escaping her perfectly painted eye.

Max kept going, his voice cracking up with laughter.

“But you need to think rationally. I mean, come on. You and me? You aren’t my type at all. For starters, you’re a virgin and haven’t even seen a dick for all I know—”

Kara pulled her hand away, her chest hurting.

She felt the sting of tears forming in her eyes, but she refused to cry. Not now. Not in front of them.

Max looked like he was trying to stop himself from laughing, but Karen kept it up, her abundant cleavage brushing his arm.

Kara kept her head high and looked at Max.

“You know what Max? You were right. I’m not your type. I’m too good for you.”

He stopped laughing abruptly, his hand going to Karen to push her away from him.

She forged on, anger replacing hurt.

“I can’t believe I wasted my time over someone as juvenile and pathetic as you. You deserve the likes of her.”

She gestured toward Karen, who stopped laughing so fast, it would have been comical any other time.

“The ones who throw themselves at guys like you, who are merely looking for a pussy to fuck once in a while.”

She saw the bartender smile behind Max, who, along with Karen, looked like he had been bulldozed by a truck.

She was going to turn around and walk out when she stopped and looked at Karen.

“I feel sorry for Gerald. The poor guy has had to put up with you for so long.”

Karen blushed, her mouth opening and closing like a choking fish.

Her head still held high, Kara turned around and walked out of the place, unaware of the pair of blue eyes that followed her every move.