He doesn’t so much as twitch, only stands there like a human wall and glares at me. “I said to sit back down.”
Damn, that’s quite the low, intimidating voice.
“And I said, ‘Fuck off.’”
Sometimes even I’m astonished by my stupidity.
Next thing I know, I’m thrown over the asshole’s shoulder, like a fucking child, my punches to his back about as effective as a flyswatter against a grizzly. He dumps me on the floor, knocking the wind out of me, and pointing a fat finger in my face, says, “Stay.”
“I’m not your fucking dog, asshole,” I holler, pushing onto my knees.
“No. You’re not,” Trey says. “A dog would listen. Now shut up and tell us what’s going on.”
I give him the look that statement deserves, and he pinches the bridge of his nose in frustration.
Garrett, ever the peacekeeper, kneels on the floor beside me. “We just want to help, bro.”
“There’s nothing to help with. I broke up with Charlie and that’s it. Okay?”
“Wait.” Garrett shakes his head like he’s got a screw loose. “You broke up with her?”
I plop back down onto my butt with my legs bent up in front of me. My eyes are already stinging, and I haven’t even said anything. Trying to ease the discomfort, I rub them with my thumb and forefinger, enjoying the sensation—like scratching an achy itch. “Yes. I broke up with her,” I say, dropping my elbows onto my knees, arms dangling.
Trey grunts as he maneuvers his big body to sit across from me on the floor. “I don’t understand. I thought you were crazy about her.”
“Yeah, well, her father wasn’t too thrilled about her dating a piece of shit biker, so…”
Trey’s body goes ridged; his eyes hard. “That son of a bitch didn’t say that to you?”
I shake my head. “Only that she was too good for me.”
“So, screw him,” Garrett interjects. “I don’t mean to be a dick, but that’s not really his decision.”
“Yeah. That’s what I said. Hand me my water, bro,” I say, pointing to my water bottle sitting on the counter.
“Sure.” Garrett hops up, grabs the bottle and tosses it to me before sitting back down.
I take a few big gulps, the cold soothing my aching throat. “Her father threatened to throw her out and quit paying for her school if she kept seeing me.”
Trey and Garrett’s jaws both drop like something out of an old comedy.
“Seriously?” Trey says.
“Yeah, man.” I rub my aching shoulder. I think the bastard almost knocked it out of its socket.
“That’s truly fucked up,” Garrett says.
I shrug. There’s not much I can say about that. He’s right.
“Did you tell her?” Garrett asks.
I shake my head. “No.” When both of them open their mouths to argue, I hurry to add, “What good would it do? Really? I’m not going to ask the girl to give up her home and education after two dates. That would be ridiculous. Even if she gets her dad to back off, he’ll never accept me. To him, I’m some lowlife asshole preying on his innocent little girl.”
I push to my feet and pat the dirt from the back of my jeans. “I appreciate you guys wanting to help, but it’s over. Better it happens now than later.”
I step between them and head into the back of the shop. This time, nobody stops me.
Chapter 10
