I head out to my locker and pull out my backpack, and a drunk couple comes ambling down the corridor. They start making out, and as the girl walks backward, she falls on top of me.

“Watch what you’re fucking doing,” the guy growls to me.

I raise my eyebrows, my temper simmering dangerously close to the surface. I help the girl up. “I’m sorry you didn’t see me.”

She’s laughing and falling all over the place. “Hey, I’m glad I did,” she flirts.

The guy narrows his eyes at me, and I clench my jaw as I glare at him.

Come on, fucker . . . try me . . . I’m in the mood to sort you right out.

“Are you coming to the party?” The girl smiles sexily.

I roll my eyes and return to my backpack. Don’t go there.

I look through my backpack for something. I have to wear stupid white.

Shit, I discover that I only have a white sleeveless T-shirt and shorts. Not ideal to work behind the bar in, but it will have to do.

I get dressed and look in the mirror. Fuck, I look like a poser. My arms are too big for sleeveless. It will have to do; I have no alternative. I make my way out to the bar.

“Hey.” Eddie smiles excitedly. “I get to work with you tonight.”

“Great.” I nod. “Where do you want me?” My gaze wanders around the room as I search for Hayden.

“Oh . . . you’re hot.” A girl swoons. “I’ll have an Orgasm.” She smiles.

“Make that two.” Her friend laughs.

“A multiple. Bet you’ve given a few of those in your day,” the first girl adds, and they both burst out laughing. “And we’re next.”

Great . . . horny drunk girls . . . just what I need.

I turn my back to them. “Where’s the cocktail book?” I ask Eddie.

He passes it to me and goes back to serving. The people are standing ten deep, waiting to be served.

What the hell does a full moon have to do with people getting wasted? is what I’d like to know.

I read the directions for the Orgasms. I make them the best I can and hand them over. They’re guaranteed to taste like shit. “There you go.”

“What are you doing later?” the girl murmurs darkly. “We’d love to repay the favor and do a multiple for real.”

I fake a smile. “I’m busy.”

My eyes scan the crowd, busy trying to locate my wayward fucking girlfriend. Where the hell is she now?

“I’ll have a Corona,” a guy says.

“Sure.” I turn to get the Corona and glance over to see Hayden dancing with a group of girls.

There she is.

I serve a few more people, my eyes constantly flicking over to linger on Hayden.

She’s dancing and having the time of her life, totally unfazed. In her hot white dress.

I hate that she looks so edible.

A guy approaches her, and I stop what I’m doing. He puts his arm around her, and she steps back.

I keep watching.

“I’ll have two Guinnesses,” someone yells.

I turn to get the beers, my eyes fixed on my girl. The guy keeps talking to her and talking.

She takes a step back, and he takes a step forward.

He leans to say something in her ear.

Something snaps. The next thing I know I’m on the dance floor with my hand around the guy’s throat. “Back the fuck off.”

HAYDEN

My eyes widen in horror. “Christopher,” I yell. “What are you doing?”

Christopher glares at the guy he has in a choke hold. “You do not fucking touch her. Do you understand me!” he yells in his face.

The guy pushes him off. “Fuck off, pretty boy.” He then grabs me aggressively around the waist and slams my body into his. “I’ll do whatever I want with her.”

Oh no.

Christopher snaps. He pulls me from the idiot’s grip and pushes me out of the way and then punches the guy full in the face.

“Ahh,” I cry as the hit connects.

The guy returns a hit, and Christopher staggers back. He runs forward and tackles the guy to the ground as they fight. They wrestle around, arms and punches flying everywhere.

“Oh my god, stop it,” I cry. I try to run in to break it up, and someone holds me back. People are shuffling in, trying to see. A few people step in to help Christopher, and then some stick up for the other guy.

It gets broken up, and the two men are held back from each other.

Christopher’s eyes find me across the crowd, and I throw up my arms. “What the hell are you doing?”

His nostrils flare. He turns and marches out of the hostel.

What the hell is wrong with him?

He practically runs down the corridor and pushes out the large front doors and down the stairs. He begins to walk off into the darkness up the road as I follow.

“Christopher,” I call.

He ignores me and keeps walking.

“Christopher,” I yell. “Don’t you dare ignore me!”

He stops, his back still to me.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Getting the fuck out of here,” he says, his back still turned.

I catch up and walk around to see his face, and my heart drops. He’s upset.

“What are you doing?” I ask softly.

His eyes hold mine.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

“I don’t fucking know,” he cries. His eyes are wild, his hair is tousled, and his chest rises and falls as if he’s gasping for air. The adrenaline in his system must be through the roof.

I frown, taken aback. Something’s going on with him. He’s in the middle of another major freak-out.

“It’s okay . . . ,” I say softly.

“Nothing about this is okay, Hayden,” he cries. “I’m going fucking crazy.”

I stare at him, unsure what to say.

“I’ve been frantic all fucking day over you, and now . . .” He throws his arms up in surrender. “I saw him touch you, and . . .” He drags his hands through his hair.

“You got jealous,” I say softly.

“I do not get jealous,” he yells, infuriated.

He’s having some kind of episode here, and I don’t want to throw fuel on the fire.

I need to try to calm him down.

“I’m sorry I didn’t answer my phone today. I didn’t mean to worry you,” I say.

“That’s the point. I don’t worry. I don’t get jealous, Hayden. I don’t know if I’m up or down or just going fucking crazy,” he cries. “What the hell is wrong with me?”

I stare at him. He really has no idea . . .

“You’re in love with me,” I say softly.

His face falls.

“But that’s okay.” I smile hopefully. “Because I love you too.”

His eyes search mine.

“And now you’ve gone and ruined a very special moment between us.” I put my hands on my hips.

He stares at me, shocked to silence.

“Get your shit together and go back inside and finish your shift,” I demand.

Perspiration beads on his brow. His eyes are crazy, and I’m unsure if he’s about to run. I just need him to calm down and go back and work. If he runs now, it’s all over between us. I’m not going through that shit again.

“This is unacceptable behavior, Christopher. You can’t beat up every man who tries to talk to me. It’s not okay.” I shrug, frustrated. “I’m not a possession. You don’t have the right to act like that.”