Their Broken Pieces by Jessica Gomez
Chapter Thirty-Two
Jasmine
After Alex and I split, I take my time getting back to the room. A smile plays on my lips, just thinking about him waiting for me.
I’m wandering through another gift shop when I see the funniest thing. It’s a shot glass, only it’s in the shape of the flaming burger and reads FLAME ON! The words stacked on top of each other, one on each bun, and I immediately snatch it off the shelf. This is the perfect gag gift for Alex. I’m sure he’ll find it as funny as I do.
I’m giddy because I bought him something that he can remember us by, probably one of the best moments of this trip. Well, other than the kissing… and touching him in places I’d only been dreaming of before the other night.
Lost in my thoughts, watching the sun sink behind the ocean floor, a voice rings out behind me.
“Hey, Jasmine, wait up.” The voice is familiar. One I could go without seeing the face that matches.
I turn around and wait to see what Andrew could possibly want. When he gets close enough, I can clearly see the damage Alex delivered to his face. Both eyes are swollen, a blackish-blue color surrounding them. His nose may or may not be broken, because there’s a large bump in the middle. By the looks of it, Alex knocked him around good.
“Hey,” he repeats. Now that he’s next to me, he can’t seem to find his words. “I… I just wanted to say I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have touched you like that, whether or not I thought you were into it. I got carried away because I wanted you.” He swallows hard. “You haven’t told anyone other than Alex, have you?” He looks desperate.
“No.” My voice is barely audible.
“Cool,” he says. Cool? Really? He’s more worried about himself than anything, but it shouldn’t surprise me.
He steps closer. “Are we good, Jasmine? No harm, no foul?” He’s moving in inch by inch, trying to close in.
My heart’s hammering, warning systems shouting to run. Something inside me is demanding I get away, the situation making the hairs on my arms stand at attention. “No, Andrew, we’re not good, and I think I need to go. Please, just stay away from me so that Alex won’t have a reason to do that to you again.”
His eyes are cold, blue ice. Alex damaged his manhood, stripping away his self-esteem, causing his image to flounder. He’s not top dog anymore and needs to regain some of his deflated ego.
“I don’t see Alex around, though, do you?” He makes a show of looking around.
My brain is screaming at my body to run, but it refuses to move. I’ve always considered myself a strong person, but as of late, I’ve become a deer in headlights; confrontation freezes me in place since Margret. When she decided beating me was a good course of action for her, I’ve become different. I’m not as strong as I once thought.
Walking backward on the path to our hotel, I track Andrew, who’s slowly stalking my steps. There are trees, bushes, and all kinds of flowers surrounding us, blocking other pedestrians’ view. We’re basically alone on a secluded path.
“Does that matter? When he finds out that you’re cornering me, he’ll flip.” I’m trying to distract myself so I can get away.
“Cornering you? I’m not cornering you, I’m apologizing to you.” His voice is sly, knowing there’s nothing I can do but threaten him.
“You’ve apologized. Now you need to leave.” I try to turn and walk faster, but he stops me by grabbing my arm and turning me back around to face him. “Don’t touch me!” I growl.
A cocky grin masks his face, and before I can slap it off, it falls all on its own. His eyes grow wider by the second, and just when my curiosity gets the better of me, I hear Carlos’s voice.
“Andrew,” he intones, tsking as he saunters over to us. He’s holding his hands together behind his back, walking like a prisoner in cuffs, appearing ten times more menacing in this posture. “I’m pretty sure Alex warned you about talking to her, let alone cornering her on a secluded path, am I right?” He shakes his head back and forth, as if he’s scolding a child.
Carlos tugs me closer as Andrew answers. “I was only saying I was sorry. Right, Jasmine?” If he thinks I’m going to corroborate his shit story, he’s got another thing coming.
“Pleading with Jasmine won’t save you. I’ve seen and heard everything.” Andrew swallows, visibly nervous now. He knows what he was doing, thinking he could get away with it. “You’re lucky I don’t mess you up, you pinche puto. You just wait until Alex finds you.” Carlos cackles like a crazy person. “You think that was a warning?” He points to Andrew’s face, stepping closer with every word, placing me securely behind him. “Look what he did to one of his own.” He points to Mario, who looks a hundred times worse than Andrew does.
“Fuck,” slips from Andrew’s lips.
“Fuck, is right,” Carlos agrees. “Have a good night, Andrew, and be sure that from now on, you sleep with one eye open, cabrón.” Then Carlos turns and guides me back to the hotel.