I want to laugh at the irony of it. He thinks I can’t find anyone better, when in actuality, there are three guys who care for me and treat me better than Jake ever did. Elliot may not always be the kindest, but he has looked out for me and things seem to be changing between us.
Jake is about to start on a tirade, probably to tell me all of the reasons I should be with him, but I’ve had enough. I won’t take his bullshit any longer and there is one surefire way to do that. “I’m in a relationship, and I’ve never been happier.”
A beat of silence. Pure shock is etched onto his features. He really did believe that I wouldn’t find anyone other than him. I don’t move, staying quiet as I know this peaceful moment won’t last long. His expression turns nasty. “Who?” The demand is sharp and full of venom. “Who the fuck would want to date you?”
I’ll admit that this hurts. I’m glad he’s not in my life anymore, and I don’t have any romantic feelings for him, but I’m still healing. He’s wrong, his question are mean and aimed to wound. He’s also shouting now, his voice echoing around the town square and drawing attention. Covertly, I try to look at the shops around us and see if anyone is around to play interference. Faces peer at me from inside the local businesses as they watch the commotion and a part of me wonders if anyone is going to step outside and help, but I need to handle this myself.
Low levels of fear twist in my gut, making my chest hurt, so I take a deep steady breath and return my gaze to my ex. “Jake–”
“Holly, is everything okay here?”
Elliot is here. Thank the soufflé gods.
“Is this him?” Jake demands, turning to take in his competition, who is walking across the square.
Elliot doesn’t hurry, but there’s an intensity in the way he walks towards us, an authority in each step he takes. Despite the chill in the air, he’s only wearing a white button-down shirt and dark jeans showing off his muscular body. Jake looks like a child in comparison.
Clearly Jake feels this too as I see him puffing up his chest, trying to seem taller, from the corner of my eye. I struggle to take my eyes off Elliot, and I wonder if it’s because of how we left things yesterday, or because of how bloody grateful I am that he is here right now.
“This is the guy you’re choosing to date over me?” Jake spits out the words, tripping over them as he takes in Elliot’s huge form.
Elliot reaches my side, and without a beat, he wraps his arms around my shoulder and pulls me against him. The warmth of his body against me instantly fills me with confidence. If I’m being completely honest, having him come to my side and instantly know what I need sends arousal coursing through my body. Bad timing, really, to be turned on as your ex and the man you kissed the day before face off against each other.
“Yes, and you are?” Elliot answers for me, narrowing his eyes at my ex.
I know that he’s just pretending, standing up for me against Jake, but even so I can’t deny how good it feels having him here with me. As though he cares for my well-being and wants to protect me.Just pretend. He’s just saying this to help you, I tell myself. Nothing good will come from letting myself believe this little lie.
“He answers for you now, does he?” Jake sneers at me, seemingly unable to hold Elliot’s stare. It’s easy to see that he’s intimidated, and he’s turning that back on me.
There might have been a time when I would allow Elliot, or either of the other guys, to speak up for me. However, this whole interaction has showed me something. I recovered from the breakup, and I put myself back together. The guys have helped me to grow and realise my potential, but ultimately, I am stronger than I ever thought I was.
“No, I speak for myself,” I fire back at him. “You’re not welcome here anymore, Jake. You burnt your bridges when you left.” This is an understatement. I wasn’t the only one to get hurt when Jake left; he made sure to put us all in our place. There is nothing here for him anymore. “You should leave.”
To punctuate my statement, I reach up and place my hand over the arm Elliot has wrapped around my shoulders, squeezing it affectionately. The gesture is claiming, andintimate. I know exactly how it looks, and I know it will piss Jake off. I don’t care anymore.
Elliot shifts slightly behind me, placing his other hand on my hip possessively, holding me closer against him.
“You heard the lady,” Elliot rumbles from behind me, his breath tickling my ear. “So, kindly fuck off.”
THIRTY-THREE
ELLIOT
I’m not quite sure what I planned to say to Holly when I got back to the Hinton Grove, yet as soon as I saw the guy leering down at her I knew I had to step in. I’ve heard about this sleaze before; it’s a small town and people love to gossip. The second I saw him, I knew he was her ex, the big-shot musician who left her behind.
To be fair to Holly, she is standing her ground and I have no doubt in my mind that she can face this guy alone. However, my protective instincts kicked in and I was moving towards her before I realised what I was doing. Over the years I’ve become pretty good at separating my feelings for my family, and my feelings towards everyone else. I’m friendly and genuine with everyone, but it’s all surface-level emotions, and I never let myself get too deep. The fact that I’m acting this way over Holly without even thinking shows that my feelings for her are deeper than I’m allowing myself to accept.
With my body wrapped around her, it’s difficult to keep my mind on track. Her curves feel fucking amazing beneath my hands and I can feel the stirrings of my arousal.Focus, Elliot.If this does come down to a fight, I don’t want to be doing it with an erection.
There’s a heavy pause as her ex sizes me up, and at one time I might have been impatient, but right now I don’t mind as it gives me an excuse to hold Holly for longer. He looks like he might be thinking about fighting this, and part of me wants him to. I have this energy in my body, a pulsing need to dosomethingto shift this feeling, and a fistfight might be exactly what I need right now. The sting of the air against my bleeding knuckles, the ache in my jaw of the bruise starting to form. Who knows, it might knock some sense into me.
The guy – Jake, I think she called him – narrows his eyes at the possessive arm I hold around Holly. Despite my bloodlust, I don’t give him any indication of aggression, I don’t win my battles that way. Instead, I let him see in my expression that I’m not giving up easily.
I wish I could say that this was all an act, but the longer I stand here and stare down at the asshole who hurt Holly, the more I realise just how much I’ve been masking my feelings.
Jake realises he’s not going to win this and returns his attention to Holly once more, his face contorted with anger. “You’ll change your mind.”
The surety in his voice stirs up anger in my gut, and as Holly shudders in my arms, that feeling only grows. Neither of us says anything as he waits for an answer he’s not going to get, and he finally spins on his heels and stalks off.
