I snort a laugh and cover my mouth. Bob facing off with any of the horsemen would be like David and Goliath. Bob is only a little taller than me.
A smile quirks the corner of Jack’s lips as he glances my way. “What was that?”
“A laugh?” I drop my hands in my lap again. Still smiling at the image.
“What was it for?” Jack turns and his blue eyes sparkle in the dashboard light. He’s got this smile and lightness to him that makes it easy to forget he can be just as dark as the others.
“My neighbor offered to send her husband over with a bat if you guys got fresh.” I smile and lift my phone. That’s when I notice a bunch of messages I received during dinner.
“Fresh? Damn, sweetheart, we plan to get more than fresh. I’m sure I could talk him down.” Jack turns onto my street, but I’m only half listening to him.
On my phone, there are the usual chat messages from Penny and the girls about their shopping trip and a party. But there are a bunch of texts from Tanner. Why would Tanner be texting me?
Jack pulls the car into the driveway before I can look at them. When he stops the car, I put my phone down. Nerves scatter through me. It can wait until later. I don’t want to get caught looking at another guy’s texts. Who knows what sort of punishment the horsemen would inflict.
I squirm in my seat as heat floods me.
“First ones here. Yes! Hurry, sweetheart.” Jack climbs out of the car. “I never get you alone.”
Glancing behind us, I don’t see any of the others’ cars. Not even headlights. How fast did Jack drive? I grin at his eagerness.
He opens my door, and I get out. As I’m digging for my keys in my purse, Jack wraps his arm around my shoulders, drawing me tight into his side.
“Any cake left?” Jack tugs me toward the door.
“Wejustate.” I laugh softly and pull out my keys. When something moves in the shadows near the door, I startle. Jack’s arm tightens around me.
“I guess you’re fine after all.” Tanner steps forward with his hands in his pockets. His shoulders are hunched like he’s trying to appear harmless, but he’s still a tall, built guy. Nothing about his expression says harmless to me.
Jack stiffens next to me. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“I was checking on myfriendto make sure she’s safe. My dad works at the hospital and said her mom was working tonight. I’d hate for anyone to take advantage of that.”
Cold runs through me. That didn’t sound pleasant. It almost sounded like a threat. I lean closer to Jack.
Tanner rubs the corner of his lips. “She’s got four assholes who don’t take no for an answer.”
“Like you have room to talk.” Jack subtly shifts us around so he’s standing between me and Tanner, protecting me? Hiding me? Getting me out of the way in case he wants to throw a punch?
Tanner’s eyes narrow. “Fuck you, Jack. You don’t know shit about what went down.”
Jack takes a menacing step forward. “I know everything you did.”
“And what about what you and Caden did to Mia?” Tanner puffs up his chest like he’s preparing to fight. This isn’t the guy who I met in art or at lunch. That guy seemed sweet, almost caring. Was that all an act? Because this guy actually freaks me out. There’s something not right about his eyes.
“We didn’t do a thing she wasn’t one hundred percent on board with. Unlike you.”
While I only know the basics of the story, what they’re saying isn’t making much sense. I touch Jack’s back and feel the tension in him. I don’t have any experience with boys and fighting, but I have a feeling unless I find a way to diffuse this, I’m going to find out real quick.
“Guys.” I try to move to Jack’s side, but he puts a firm hand on my hip and keeps me behind him. I glance down at where his touch burns into me like always, but he’s also controlling me, handling me. Making the situation worse instead of deescalating this confrontation.
“I’m trying to be a friend to Harper. She needs someone willing to stand up to you.” Tanner brushes a hand through his hair and seems to take a relaxed stance, but his muscles are still coiled, still ready to react.
Jack laughs. Not the light, brilliant laugh he usually has, but dark and ominous. “I’m sure you just happen to be friends with the girl we claimed for the year. Tell me exactly how that happened?”
“If anyone understands what she’s going through, it’s me.” Tanner puffs up again. “We both know you’re going to drop her as soon as you get what you want.”
A car door slams behind me. I’m not sure how many are in that car. Fuck. I spin around. This is going to get out of hand. Especially ifTanner keeps popping off. He’s lost his damn mind. There are five horsemen and only one of him. This won’t end well for him.
