Damaged Beyond Repair by Kashmira Kamat (KittyKash) (ebook reader below 3000 .txt) 📖

You're the one driving me insane.

It kept haunting me ever single second. Wet tears pooled at the edge of my eyes threatening to blur my vision. My ring finger ached with the absence of ring he'd given me. I felt Gabriel's hand coil around mine, his fingers caressing my skin softly. I pulled away at once, "You guys need to sit and talk it out. He'll be around eventually. I'm sure."

"Guess you're right." I mumbled.

Gabriel seized my hand in both of his, I appreciate his concerns for me but this touchy-feely thing was going a little too far for my liking, my cell phone buzzed which was a relief since I was looking for a reason to pull away without hurting his feelings. I swiped the touch screen to unlock and a message from Rowan flashed the screen.

Baby, I'm sorry. Please come back xx Rowan.

"I have to go."

"Can I give you a ride?"

And let Rowan watch me hop from another man's car? Thanks but NO THANKS.

"I'll manage Gabe, Thanks for asking though." I picked up all my stuff and make for the restaurant exit.

***

   I shivered as the wind embraced its wide arms around me; it was a little too cold even for a summer evening. I hugged myself harder as I strode swiftly. People were already clearing away slowly, disappearing one by one. The shop owners pulled down the shutters. I checked my watch and noticed the time read 10:30. Well, the locals in Carmel were actually pretty lazy, when the clock ticked 9:00 they all wrapped everything up in a gallop and by 11:00 the streets transformed into a set from the Shawn of the Dead. A little girl passed me, waving her large pink lollipop at me. I had a sudden eerie feeling like I was being followed. I watched a shadow like thing move in the silhouette of the stoned pathway but I didn't dare turn around.

"Alana." I spun around towards the owner of the voice.

The woman stood a few steps away towering over me, her short dark hair settled on her lean shoulders. She wore a white shirt over faded skinny denims. She would still be a few inches taller than me without those killer heels.

Do I know this woman?

I began to rack my already tired brain and froze when the realization dawned. This woman didn't need an introduction but nevertheless she said, "I'm Lauren."

Oh GOD NO!

"What do you want?"

"I just want to talk to you."

"I have nothing to say to you nor do I have any interest in small talk so if you'll excuse me." I twirled to resume my walk.

"It's about Rowan, please." I heard her plead, "It's really important. You need to know this."

I stopped dead in my tracks. Rowan was a soft subject. I wouldn't believe a single word this woman would spout but I felt the need to hear her out, maybe then she'll stop bothering me, "What is it about Rowan?"

Lauren pointed towards a secluded ice-cream parlour at the end of the street, "We could go there and talk, I'll not take too much of your time."

I just hated these female rivals and if that wasn't enough, this one was an ex-girlfriend. I could charge away in Super Mario speed. Damn! It was too late for that and I had already run out of mushrooms, "Okay."

If she was back for Rowan again, I already had my 'back off bitch' speech ready. I followed her towards the parlor, summoning all my energy to face whatever she had planned to throw at me.