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I wanted to confront him I wanted to scream at him Make him listen!

“Let ry inner diatribe

She was staring at Darragh, as half standing frohts, he’d offered to get another round of drinks

“Oh, that’s—”

“No, let me” She frowned at Michael “Mike, another water or do you want a tonic or sooing alcohol That meant he didn’t even have a depressant to blame his foul mood on

He shook his head “You’re not paying I’ll pay”

That was the old Michael Old-fashioned to the core I curled my lip in annoyance

Nina shrugged nonchalantly “Not going to argue with that”

Either she was very laid-back, or there was so here because who acted like they didn’t care if their date was behaving like a total asshole?

Giving a reluctant nod, Michael stood froot to me, and I said I’d have another soda water and lilass “Are you the designated driver tonight too?”

Usually, whenever anyone askedin a social situation, I told them I didn’t drink alcohol No explanation It was nobody’s business but mine

The tension I felt from my friends and family, however, choked a response in my throat

“Dahlia doesn’t drink,” Michael answered, his eyes cool and flat “She can’t handle her drink Turns her into a lush who betrays everyone around her, isn’t that right, dahlin’?”

His words prickled all over s They were meant to wound, to eviscerate my emotions

And just like that, I was deters I had for him His hateful words made that easier than it sounded Maybe there was ht