Chapter 0390 Hannah I wiped the sweat from my face and neck with a towel, gulping down water from my bottle. My muscles ached pleasantly from the intense workout, my limbs feeling delightfully loose and limber.
âGreat session today, Hannah,â Drake said, clapping me on the shoulder. He might have even been more breathless than I was.
âYou really gave me a run for my money.â
âIâm glad to know Iâve finally put you in your place, Drake.â
Drake grinned roguishly and guzzled down his own water.
âSpeaking of putting men in their place,â Viona cooed, leaning against the ropes surrounding the sparring ring, âhow was your date the other night? Was Alpha David just as much of a bastard as he seems?â
I groaned, remembering the disaster of a date with David. âIt was awful,â I grunted, grabbing my towel and slipping beneath the ropes. âA complete waste of time, actually. I should have just stayed home.â âThat bad, huh?â Drake asked, raising an eyebrow.
I sighed as I shoved my things into my bag. âDavid was arrogant the entire time, barely listened to anything I said. And then at the end of the night, he got mad that I wouldnât sleep with him on the first date. He even kissed me without my permission. Said something along the lines of me owing him for buying me an expensive dinner.â
âEw.â Viona shook her head, short hair bobbing around her face. âIâm sorry, Hannah. Men are disgusting.â She glanced at Drake, who was hopping down from the sparring ring now too. âNo offense.â
Drake smirked. âNone taken. Men are indeed disgusting.â
I shrugged and waved my hand. âItâs whatever, really. I just donât think Iâm ready to get back into the dating scene, thatâs all.â
âHey, donât let one bad experience put you off,â Drake said gently. âIn all seriousness, there are some good guys out there.â
âI know,â I replied. âItâs just... it was kind of scary, you know? I forgot how vulnerable dating can make you feel.â
Viona nodded sympathetically. âI get it. Take your time, Hannah. Thereâs no rush.â
After a moment of silence, Viona spoke up again. âBut... are you bringing a plus one to the wedding?â
I shook my head. âNo, Iâm going alone. At first, I thought about bringing someone just to shove it in Noahâs face, but... Iâve decided I would rather go by myself than with someone I donât even like.â
Drake and Viona exchanged glances. âAre you sure?â Drake asked. âI can go with you, if you wa-â
âNo,â I said quickly, glancing at Viona, Her face was impassive, and I knew she wouldnât care, but still. It felt... wrong now that they were a thing. âI can handle it on my own.â
The parking garage was dimly lit as I made my way out to my car a little while later, the fluorescent lights flickering ominously.
For all my big talk of being able to handle myself earlier, one thing was for certain:
+25 BONUS Chapter 0390 this parking garage always freaked me out. Especially this late.
As I made my way to my car, digging through my purse with my keys, I shivered. Maybe it was just the eerie atmosphere, but I felt like I was being watched. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and I quickened my pace.
Fumbling with my keys, I dropped them on the ground next to my car. âShit,â I muttered, bending to pick them up.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. My heart rate spiked as I recognized David, his eyes glazed over.
âWell, well,â he slurred, stumbling toward me. âIf it isnât the little tease herself.â
I backed up against my car, my hand instinctively reaching for my phone. âDavid, what are you doing here?â
He closed the distance between us, and this close, I could smell whiskey on his breath. Heâd been drinking. A lot.
âIâve been thinking about our date,â he said, his words blurring together. âYouâre quite the little playgirl, arenât you?â
âWhat are you talking about?â
Before I could slip away, David leaned in, his body pressing me against the car. âDonât play dumb, Hannah. I saw the way you were looking at me during dinner. Your body language... I know you wanted me and youâre just getting off on the chase.â
+25 B