Chapter 27

James looked at Collin with boredom. The guy kept talking about his stupid engagement, about how much money he'd spent on his car, about everything he did. He was a total idiot. He just wanted to go home. To be honest, he never liked those kinds of events. He only attended because Edward had invited him, the others, he hardly ever went to.

The dinner went on like that: Collin, Collin, questions about his father, questions about his work, Collin, awkward questions about Sarah, and finally, Edward's extensive stories.

After an hour, it was finally time to go home. What could I do?

Portia was gone, Rose was gone, and Luna was mad at him. What would he do? Surely he would have to go in quietly, and go to sleep. And he didn't want to sleep. Shit, he didn't want to.

Edward was at the door dismissing each of his guests.

James walked toward her.

-Hey, James! Thanks for coming, really. - smiled Edward.

-No need, it's been my pleasure.

-How is Portia?

-She's perfect, her health has been impeccable these past few weeks.

-That's great, I'm so happy for you. Whatever you need, know that I'm totally willing to help. - he added.

-Thank you Portia, I'll keep that in mind. -He said goodbye.

He walked to the parking lot and it didn't take him long to get in and drive away.

He started driving. His vision was blurry, he was tired, but he didn't want to sleep. He just wanted to get there.

Traffic was hell. Everyone was stuck at the same time, every day. His despair and anger was getting bigger and bigger.

Luna didn't want to see him, she'd had to put up with stupid Collin and his comments about Sarah all fucking night, the traffic was too much and to top it all off she didn't know what the fuck to do with her feelings. He honked his horn loudly. The car in front of him wouldn't start.

-Let's go! - he shouted from the window. Several horns imitated him and began to honk. The car behind him began to make too much noise and he turned around to see who the jerk was.

Collin was in the back.

James sighed. He had to control himself. He had to control himself.

-Shut the fuck up, Collin! - he shouted from his window.

-You shut the fuck up, you faggot!

James sighed in frustration. He quickly opened the door and walked to Collin's car. His fiancée, sitting next to him, laughed stupidly as he rolled down the window. James looked at him expectantly.

- What's the matter with you, huh? - Collin asked.

In less than a second, James's fist was through his face, leaving him with his nose completely bursting with blood.

-Shut the fuck up! - he shouted angrily. His hand hurt.

Collin became exalted and the woman stopped laughing. Worriedly, she tried to touch her fiancé but he immediately pushed her away.

-What the fuck is wrong with you, Yorke?

-Get down, you asshole! - he shouted angrily.

Collin plucked up his courage and got out of the car despite his girlfriend's insistence. It wasn't long before he took another hit from James, leaving him on the hood of the car. He touched his chin and slowly stood up.

-Do you have something to tell me? - James asked. His opponent looked at him with hatred. He gave him a hard blow with his left fist, hitting him in the chin and mouth. James touched his lip as his face turned red with fury. A little blood trickled from the wound. He lunged at Collin and started punching him all over his face. James was trying to defend himself but James's fury seemed uncontrollable and impossible to handle.

He was out of control.

He began aggressively punching him in the body.

Several people approached out of sheer morbid curiosity and others out of complete dismay. It wasn't long before someone he couldn't see grabbed him by the shoulders, pulling him completely away from Collin, who lay on the ground. His fiancée grabbed his face in desperation as she shouted an insult or two at James.

-You're an idiot, Collin.

- Poor loser. - he said between his teeth.

James looked at him with fury and then some. He wanted to go home.

He let go of the arms of the guy holding him and walked to his car. Collin was fine, but he could wait for his demand.

Red-faced and broken nosed, he looked ahead and prayed for the traffic to clear so he could get there and sink into bed. It didn't take long for it to be fulfilled.

He walked home was a short walk.

Too much was going through his head and the last thing he wanted was to see Luna.

He was hurt, his lip was busted, his mouth tasted like iron so he guessed it must be full of blood.

He looked down at his hands and smiled. Collin had pulled her off worse than he had.

He parked his truck outside and slowly got out. He walked to the entrance, opened the door and as he stepped inside, he looked to the side.

He slowly walked up the stairs, feeling every muscle in his body. There was no sign of Luna.

He quickly entered his room and was elated to see someone lying on his bed. It was her. He tried to ignore it. She could go to sleep downstairs.

He walked to his closet and carefully stepped inside. He closed the door.

He grabbed clean pajamas and underwear. She would use Portia's bathroom. He took off the wrinkled and stained suit, leaving it in the laundry basket that rested next to the mirror.

He went out, trying to make as little noise as possible, but a strange figure in the darkness made every hair on his body stand on end and he gasped.

- Luna, for God's sake, do you want to kill me?

- James, what the fuck happened to you? Are you okay?

-Nothing, Luna, I..." he answered evasively, walking past her towards the door.

-You're not thinking of leaving, are you," she asked. He averted his gaze.

-No," she answered in a whisper.

-Are you all right? - he asked and grabbed her hand. James let go of her grip quickly. He stared at her. - Stop that shit. This is no time for your games.

She took his hand again and led him into the bathroom. James sat down on the stool in front of the tub and covered his face. He was embarrassed.

Luna took a towel and soaked it in water. She laid it on the counter and opened his door. She took out the first aid kit she had seen a few hours ago while checking the bathroom and hoped James didn't notice that detail. She took out some gauze and alcohol, took the towel with water and began to slowly wipe the wounds, cleaning the blood a little at a time. Then he took some gauze, with a little alcohol he disinfected the wounds.

James groaned.

-I'm sorry. How did it happen?

-Business fight.

-At dinner?

-No. -I was on my way home and he was coming back and... things happened.

-Oh. Did you even give him what he deserved? -she asked, smiling. The guy looked too uncomfortable.

-Yeah, you could say that. - He said and grimaced as Luna continued with her wounds.

-That's all right. That's it.

James sighed again.

-Are you mad at me? - he asked looking at her cautiously. Luna just looked at him in consternation, did she pretend she wasn't?

-How could she not be?

-I didn't mean to, Luna.

- How could you say that to me?

-What?

- Are you incapable of handling your actions?

James became agitated. He spoke.

- Yes, Luna. That's the problem, that's exactly the damn problem. I couldn't do it, I couldn't handle it and I'm sorry I did it if it made you feel bad. I don't know what's going on here and I don't fully understand it either, I doubt you do either.

-Understand what? That I'm just your employee, who deludedly goes along with your outbursts?

-Don't you realize?

-Of what?

-You're driving me crazy. -he finally confessed. He covered his face with both hands and let out a long sigh.

-James, what do you mean?

He looked up.

- I can't take it anymore, I'm sorry. You're driving me crazy and it's useless.

She sat down on the floor.

James was looking at her intently, but she wasn't looking at him. She just looked at the floor.

-If you don't feel the same way I do, it's okay. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable and if you want to leave, I'll understand.

Luna looked up and knelt down quickly. Without thinking, she kissed him.

James instantly followed her lead, getting up and leaning her against the wall. Her face hurt but it was insignificant.

He led her out of the bathroom and they both fell onto the bed.

He couldn't hide it anymore, and if he wanted to, it was going to be useless.

That hidden desire was bursting from his every pore and he couldn't help but lose control. Neither could she.

It was inevitable.