He wants his words to cut me, and a few months ago, they may have. Holly’s out of my league, I’ve knownthat from the start. But I also know that she’s kind. She cares about everything and everyone she meets. She’s a woman who rushed to help my baby brother, no questions asked, even when he had been nothing but a dick to her. She’s thoughtful, continually putting her needs last even when she shouldn’t. She’s the furthest thing from crazy. I promised her I’d do any fucking thing I could to make her happy, to support her in any way possible, and I’m a man of my word.
“You’re pretty cocky for someone sporting a two-inch dick and an even smaller brain. Pretty cocky for someone stupid enough to let a woman like her go.”
Geoff’s face flushes, and he takes another step forward, a larger one, and it puts us nearly nose to nose as I peer down at him. “Listen to me you fucking hillbilly. You think you’re hot shit just because you’re here tonight. You think you fit in with us? Withher? I’ll bet she paid for your ticket, for your dinner plate. I’ll bet the cost she put out for tonight is more than you make in a month, you incompetent prick.”
“Wow,” I scoff, pretending to be impressed. “Those are some big words for such a little guy.”
Geoff’s friend snickers behind him, quickly trying to cover his mouth with his hand, but Geoff sees it all the same. He takes a step forward, hitting the tips of his shinydress shoes against my nicest cowboy boots. He juts his chin up, trying to intimidate me, but considering I have to look down at him like he’s a child, his move doesn’t hit as hard as he’d like it to.
“You’re scum. Nothing but some inbred piece of shit.” He raises his hands, using all of his strength to push at the center of my chest. His hands hit me, somewhat firm, but it’s not enough to knock me on my ass or even make me sway. I’ve wrangled stubborn heifers that weigh more than him.
“Listen, princess. I’m going to need you to calm down. You see…” I lean over him, forcing him to take a much-needed step back. “My girl is up there making a speech, and I’d like to hear it.” I twist back around, keeping my face calm in Holly’s direction in case she looks up. I feel Geoff spin to face me, and he prompts his hands on his hips. I nearly expect him to start stomping his feet like a child.
I wait a beat, hoping that he’ll get the hint and leave me alone, but he’s proven countless times that he’s an idiot, so as he opens his mouth to spew some ridiculous comment, I huff out a breath and murmur to him from the corner of my mouth. “Listen, how about you take your tantrum somewhere else so us adults can pay attention."
Chapter Thirty-Five
Holly
With my focus narrowed in on my speech, the rest of the room fades away. The words flow from memory—rehearsed a hundred times with Grayson, and a few hundred more alone. I reminisce about my time with Harry, how the loss of him will continue to haunt me, and how I wonder if his ending could have been different if his clinic hadn’t closed.
The occasional murmur sounds from the back of the room, and when I flick my eyes back toward the bar, I see Grayson standing near Geoff. Geoff looks irate, his face is flushed in that way it used to get when he was either drunk or pissed off, but Grayson doesn’t seem phased in the slightest. He nods at me, giving that strong, steady look that always makes my chest tighten.
I return to my speech, making sure to pause for effect when I recount my experience in some of the smallerclinics, and where I believe financial donations would make the most impact.
Before I know it, I’m thanking the crowd, and a polite but steady applause sounds throughout the room. I can hear another sound, a clapping, but one that’s louder than the rest and a little off beat. When I turn to find Grayson, his hands are raised above his head, clapping loudly with the biggest smile I have ever seen radiating across his face.
I smile back, having to purse my lips together so I don’t start giggling from being so damn happy. I nod politely at the crowd, and then Keith meets me at the microphone. He says a few words, prepping the crowd for a short question and answer session, when whispers from the back steal some of the attention. A few of the guests are turning in their seat toward the source of the noise, and then a crash echoes across the room.
My head whips up, and my breath catches. Near the bar, a pissed-off Geoff has slammed his cocktail glass to the ground. The brown liquid splashes over the leg of Grayson’s pants, but he doesn’t so much as flinch with the act.
His brawny forearms are crossed firmly over his barrel chest with a foreign look on his face. One that’s both pissed off yet amused. I see him brush a finger over hislips, as if he’s asking Geoff to please shush, and I can’t help the laugh that bubbles out of me.
Half of the room is now turned to watch Geoff’s temper tantrum. Some turn back to face me, but the more my gaze is locked on the scene at the back of the bar, I feel the urge to run to Grayson.
Gathering up the skirt of my dress, I mumble a soft “excuse me” to Keith as I make my way down the few stage stairs. I weave through the dining tables, and within seconds, I’m back at the bar with my eyes locked with Grayson. He reaches a hand out for me once I’m within reach, just like he always does, and I willingly slide into his embrace.
“You alright?” I ask Grayson, a hand sliding up to rest on his chest.
“I’m fine, baby, I’m sorry about this.” He gestures to Geoff with a nod of his head.
“Me?” Geoff scoffs, raising his arms wide. “I’m not the problem here.”
Grayson is about to interrupt him, to likely put an end to this, but I’ve spent too many years holding my tongue around people like Geoff. I let him treat me like shit throughout our relationship. I let him ignore me on the worst day of my life. But that was before I met a man who loves me for me, imperfections and all.
“Geoff, you need to calm down.”
He slices out a hand to the side as if to silence me, and his attention returns to Grayson.
I slide to the slide, making sure that I’m in front of Grayson. “Excuse me? For one, you don’t get to decide when I get to speak. And you don’t get to decide what I get to say.” I lower my voice, just a little, not oblivious to the guests that have turned in their seats to watch the drama unfold.
Geoff’s face breaks out in a cocky grin, and my irritation grows.
“You know what?” Something flicks inside of me. A switch, maybe. One that has been itching to tell Geoff off since that night in February. Even longer than that, if I was truly honest with myself. I reach back to snag Grayson’s hand, lacing his fingers through mine. “Geoff, I mean this in the nicest way possible. But you can fuck off. Fuck all the way off.”
A low chuckle sounds behind me, and Grayson places his free hand on my back, steading my nerves.
“Youwouldbe the type of person to get in a pissing match at an event like this. And it’s sad, really, that you feel you need to stake a claim on something. Something you don't even care about. There isn't a thing in this world you could do to hurt me anymore, and we have betterthings to do than to feed into your pitiful games, so, if you will excuse us…” I grip Grayson’s hand, moving a step toward the door. “We’re leaving.”
