She gapes at me. “Oh my god, how did you duck that?”
“Just did.”
“It’s like you didn’t even move. Did you teleport? Did you teleport yourself away from his fist? Oh my god, are you okay?”
My biological weapon isn’t the only part of me enjoying her being impressed, and I need to tamp that down. “Martial arts are good for anger management.”
She stares at me for a brief moment longer, then she’s on her feet, glaring at her…whatever he is. “What the hell, Nigel?We don’t hit people.”
He grunts from the ground, where Chester has him pinned. “Watch your language.”
“You watchyourfucking language,” she fires back. “Don’t punch my fiancé. Do you want to be uninvited from the wedding?”
“He doesn’t deserve you.”
“He’s not wrong,” I tell Sloane.
“God, he’s so swoony,” Chester says. Then he grunts as Nigel twists under him. “Stay still. I’ll get my taser out if I think you’re gonna try to punch someone again. Mr. Remington’s right. I’m gonna need to know where you were all day today.”
Peggy meows loudly.
And Tillie Jean crushes Sloane and the cat both with a hug. “You okay?”
Sloane’s mufflednomakes my heart crack in two.
“What do you need?” TJ asks her quietly.
It’s what I should be asking, but instead, I issued orders.
Same as fuckingNigel.
“To wake up from this nightmare?” Sloane whispers.
Tillie Jean shoots me a look while she hugs Sloane tighter.
That look could mean any number of things.
Is this your fault?
Are you doing anything about it?
How will you fix this?
Can you keep her safe?
Do you want me to tell Chester to accidentally knee Nigel in the gonads?
If you’re going to be her pretend fiancé, you damn well better take good care of her.
There’s one appropriate response regardless of what Tillie Jean’s look means.
I nod.
I’ve got Sloane.
I won’t let anything happen to her.
Anythingelse.
