“Nicholas.”Without question, his name on my lips is a warning.I don’t care if he’s gay.I don’t care who he wants to be with.I do care that he’s going to hurt one of the sweetest young women I know with his lies, just like he hurt me.?
My former fiancé drops Aubrey’s hand and steps between me and his mother.He looks the same as he always does, well-dressed, perfectly parted hair, a sincere, beseeching look on his handsome face.I used to find that look endearing.Now I recognize the monster behind the mask.He’s nothing but a weakling, desperate to hide his true nature.?
Rygar is ten times the man, and he’s not even human.?
No wonder my dad didn’t like this spineless weasel.Why couldn’t I see it before?Did I want the fairytale life so badly I refused to see the truth??
He reaches for my hand, but I jerk it away.“Don’t you dare touch me.”?
“Madison, I’m sorry, okay?Just don’t cause a scene.”He glances over his shoulder, not at his parents or Aubrey, but at Richard.Fucking Richard.?
“Don’t cause a scene?”I snort with disgust and look at Aubrey.“You better run, girlfriend.Run as far and as fast as you can.”?
Aubrey’s cheeks turn bright pink.People are stopping in the street to stare at the spectacle.One, I’m sure Nicholas and I are still the juiciest bit of town gossip to be had, but two?I’m not even close to quiet.?
And truth be told, I don’t give a damn.I’m done letting this coward lie to me.?
Aubrey clears her throat.“I’m sorry, Madison.I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”She looks at Nicholas.“We should go.”?
Nicholas ignores her.Completely.What a shocker.Clearly his one and only concern is making sure I don’t say anything.I feel sorry for her.I really do.?
“Nicholas?”Is that worry I hear in Aubrey’s tone?Worry about what?“She left you at the altar, baby.Come on.Let’s go.”?
My jaw drops.She thinks I’mcompetition?I shake my head.I’m done.“Aubrey, I’m not your competition.He is.”I point directly at Richard, whose face is suddenly pale as a ghost’s.?
Mrs.Cunningham gasps.?
The mayor curses.?
Behind me, Emily cackles with laughter.“It’s true.They were going at it like rabbits in the pastor’s office before the wedding started.I was there.”?
“Damn it, Madison!Stop lying!”Nicholas’s gaze looks fevered, frantic.He lunges at me.?
My fist flies, connecting with his jaw with a satisfyingcrackthat sends him straight to the ground.?
“That’s my girl!”My dad’s whoop of approval makes me all warm and gooey inside.I didn’t grow up with a military dad for nothing.If there’s one thing he made absolutely sure I knew, it was how to throw a punch.?
Rolling my shoulders to release the tension, I glare down at the coward.“Get out of here and stop lying.”I glance up at Richard.“That goes for you, too, asshole.”?
We’ve attracted a small crowd of at least thirty locals and a few tourists.My mom and Saffron are standing shoulder-to-shoulder.Saffron gives me a little wink.My mom is beaming.The rest of these people’s opinions don’t matter to me.By the end of the day, the whole town will have heard a play-by-play.Let them think what they want.I know the truth.?
And I don’t have time for this shit.?
I turn around to get back to work, take two steps and make eye contact with the man I do care about.A lot.?
“Rygar.”
Nineteen
B.I.L.L.:? If only we had the bear.
Stargazer Village, Thursday 10 am
Rygar is here,his buddy Xandor at his side.The other one must still be with Hannah.The thought makes me worry about her a bit less.If his suit has all the gadgets and weapons Rygar’s does, plus BILL on his side?They should be fine.Right??
“Yes!Oh.My.Fucking.God!That was epic!”Emily is still celebrating my TKO as Richard helps Nicholas to his feet.When I don’t respond, she turns her head and gasps.“What ishedoing here?”
I’m not sure which of the two aliens she’s talking about, but it doesn’t matter.Rygar is here.He sought me out, despite all the things I said.I rejected him and told him I couldn’t be with him, and he came anyway.
