A deafening silence roared in my ears as everyone looked our way. Men like polo guy weren’t uncommon, but the anger and aggression of him scared me. I gripped the glass tighter, ready to throw it at his face if necessary but then Alex appeared on the other side of him.
“Let’s go.”
“Okay, Marilyn Manson, you going tofightme?”
In a span of two seconds, Alex had red shirt guy on the ground, and Cal dragged him to the door. My gasp caught in my throat, my hand over my erratic heart, and I watched Cal pick up the guy and toss him outside. Alex helped, and when they came back in, the bar cheered.
“That guy is a fucking dick!” someone yelled.
“Fuck him!” mustache man cheered.
“You okay, honey?” A very old and wrinkled man leaned forward on the bar and spoke to me. “He didn’t rattle ya, did he?”
“A bit, yeah.” I cleared my throat, thankful for both Cal and Alex. I wasn’t some weak woman who couldn’t handle herself, but there was nothing I could’ve done that would’ve helped the situation.
The older guy patted my hand before going back to a conversation with his seatmate, and I took a deep breath. Rattled was the right word. Not put off or upset. Rattled. I didn’t mean to search him out, but I found myself staring at Cal, who stared right back and mouthedyou okay?
I nodded and mouthedthank you.
Then, of all the things he could’ve done—he winked.
CHAPTER
SIX
Cal
It was two in the morning before we got the place cleaned up and not smelling like piss and beer. We were all exhausted. Alex kept their mouth quiet as we worked in comfortable silence, and even Elle lost some of her sunshine.
This bar stuff was no joke. My body ached in places it shouldn’t with how much I worked out, but I welcomed the burn. Made me feel like I did something and was alive. “Charlie texted me three hours ago, but I didn’t see it. He arrived and will meet his cousin tomorrow.”
“How nice.” Elle lifted her head up from doing a final wipe down and smiled. It didn’t meet her eyes, and there were shadows underneath them. I hoped that fucking asshole didn’t scare her. Just thinking about how he’d yelled at her had me cracking my knuckles.
He seemed like the type to get revenge, so if Elle thought she was walking home alone, she’d have to fight me on it. Alex called a rideshare and waved goodbye, but Elle stopped them.
“Alex.”
“Hm?”
“Thank you for tonight.” Her hand gripped the base of her throat, her cheeks flushed. “I really appreciate it.”
Alex’s face softened for one second before nodding. “Anytime, Barbie.”
Elle smiled for real and then turned to me once Alex left.
Before she opened her mouth, I barked out, “I’m walking you home every night. I don’t care if you don’t like it.”
She slammed her lips shut, blinking back in surprise. “Wow, uh, I was going to ask if you didn’t mind.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.” She bit the side of her lip and smiled at me. It was a sweet, adorable little grin that had me feeling weird inside. There wasn’t an ounce of hate in her gaze, and I felt two inches taller. I liked how she looked at me right then. Like I mattered. Like I wasn’t a fucking angry asshole who lashed out all the time.
“That kinda freaked me out. Not that I can’t scream really loudly or break a glass on his face, but these noodles?” She held up her arms and shook them. “They are great for typing or pouring but not much else.”
“You have great arms,” I said, silently hating myself.Whydid I say that? “They’re fine, for arms.”
She snorted and shouldered a mini backpack. I had no idea what she could even fit in there. Two cookies? A bottle of water? One hockey puck? It seemed impractical when she should fill it with snacks. She headed for the door before hitting her forehead. “Oh, the shepherd’s pie. I don’t want to leave it here.”
