“Get lost,” I bite.
He sighs like I’m an inconvenience. “Can we do this later? Get in.”
I cross my arms stubbornly. “I didn’t need your help in there.”
He’s quiet for a moment, like he’s biting back a comment. “I wasn’t waiting for you to ask.”
“I was waiting until the song was over,” I snap defensively.
“For God’s sake, that wasn’t about you, Willow. Now can we please go?”
I swallow at his honesty.
He doesn’t wait for me to follow, instead he circles the car and hops into the driver’s seat.
Rose steps up behind me. “He’s right. That was Ricky Callahan—the rival I was telling you about. He must’ve seen the announcement.”
I shake my head, keeping my voice low. “Of course it’s not about me, Rose.”
“Wil.”
“This isn’t a good time to rationalize with me, Rose,” I whisper harshly. “I’m all sorts of messed up. I was scared up there. I felt alone and helpless. It just .?.?. it came out of nowhere. I’veneverfelt that way.”
She grimaces like she understands exactly what happened. “You can’t let Eric get in your head. You’ve got this. You always had.”
“If I really believed it, I wouldn’t have ended up taking self-defense classes like my life depended on it.” I laugh at myself. “And I still don’t know how to defend myself, and I’ve lost another gig because of it.”
She glances over my shoulder where Dallas and Wilder are waiting. “It’s not the same thing.”
“Maybe not. But it’s still a man taking out his insecurities on someone else, and leaving me without a job.”
She bites her lip and I know she can’t argue with that. Then she slips the envelope into my purse. “I think you can do better than this place anyway.”
We’re a few minutes into the drive when Dallas starts. A deep breath with a slow exhale. “I’m sorry, Willow.” He shakes his head like this all spiraled out of his control. “When I heard you were there—I had to come. It’s where the Callahan crew always hang out, so I had to make sure you were safe.”
“I can handle myself.” My voice is flat as I stare ahead, trying to figure out what the hell I’m really upset about.
Is it the fact he came looking for trouble? The gig I lost? Or how badly Eric still fucked with my head.
Dallas runs a hand down his face like he’s trying not to yell. “I wasn’t about to stand by and let him taunt you.”
“He could have been standing off to the side and I’d have still lost my job tonight.”
“But that wasn’t the case. Because hewastaunting you. And he did it because you’remine.”
“Your what? Your fake fiancée? Your responsibility?”
He sucks in a breath, but the words get caught. Instead, he stares at the road like it personally betrayed him. “You’re going to be my wife. For whatever short time that may be, that makes you mine to protect. And I’m going to do that the only way I know how.”
I scoff. “With your fists.”
“With the only language Ricky Callahan understands,” he snaps. Then sighs. “I’m sorry .?.?. I’m sorry it ruined your night. I’m sorry you got caught in the middle of it. But I’ll never be sorry for setting that asshole straight and certainly not for keeping you safe.”
My mouth opens but nothing comes out. My tongue feels useless against his words. So I stay silent for the rest of the drive home.
And so does he. Swiping his hand through his hair as if he’s trying to figure out a way to fix this.
No, exactly like he’s trying to figure out a way to fix this. I don’t know how I know that, but I do. It’s the part of me that trusts him. That knows he’s a good man.
