“Are you in a better mood now, Brielle?” Carson jokes, and I send him daggers from across the pit.
“I was in a great mood before this caveman dragged me out here,” I say, and Ash laughs.
“Sounds like Emris.” She sighs before standing and going to the small cooler opposite the fire, pulling out two beer bottles.
“Here.” She hands me one, and I take it before she goes back to her seat.
For whatever reason, her comment about knowing Emris on a different level doesn’t stir up any sense of jealousy in me—not like the girl at the store, anyway. The way her eyes devoured everything about Emris until she saw me, the look of pure disgust in her eyes. But Ash seems like nothing more than a friend, not someone who is interested in him, and for some reason, I feel relieved.
“Thanks.” I thank her for the beer with no intention of drinking it. It’s been a long time since I’ve drunk anything, and I’m not going to start now.
Not with these people.
Emris takes my hand and walks us over to two empty chairs. I lower myself and try to loosen up. The beer bottle stays in my lap, and I busy my hands with the cold cap.
Carson and the brothers talk about random stuff, Ash and Emris butting in occasionally. Everything between them seems natural, and I decide to ask Emris more about how they met later. But I might not get the chance, and for whatever reason, that makes me sad. I shouldn’t be feeling anything toward them. I have to leave.
My eyes move to the fire, and I get lost in thought for a while before someone stands in my line of sight. Troy smiles at mebefore plopping down in the empty chair to my right. Emris is now standing on the other side of the fire with Carson, but his eyes are on the ground, only nodding at what he’s saying.
“So, tell me about yourself, Brie?” Troy’s voice brings me back as he leans back in his chair, bringing the bottle to his mouth as his eyes track over my body. He’s cute for sure. Brown hair, brown eyes, and a strong build. But he’s not...Emris.
“Um, there isn’t much to know. I’m pretty boring.” I give him a tight smile.
They must know I didn’t come here willingly, right? Or did Carson and Emris keep that information to themselves?
“I find that hard to believe. You’re absolutely gorgeous. A girl like you must be interesting.”
I can see Emris’s grip on the beer bottle tighten from the corner of my eye.
“I was a bartender for a few months, but that’s as exciting as my life has been.” I shrug, playing with the bottle in my hand.
“Oh, a bartender, huh? I bet you got loads of tips. Did you enjoy it?”
What the hell is wrong with this guy? The tension in the air grows, and I wish Emris were next to me again. He might be my enemy, but at least he makes me feel safe. Right now, Troy is making me regret coming down.
“It paid the bills,” I mutter.
“How does your boyfriend feel about you working at a bar?” He brings the beer to his mouth, and by the way he sways in his chair, I can tell he’s intoxicated.
“No boyfriend,” I state, my eyes going from Troy to Emris, who still isn’t looking at me but is now talking to Ash.
A hand grips my thigh, and I freeze, my arms raising slightly so I don’t touch Troy. He squeezes my skin, and my stomach sinks.
I don’t like this.
“Um,” I begin, but the hand on my thigh is gone, and the chair next to me falls backward, Troy dangling from Emris’s tight grip around his throat.
“If you ever lay even a finger on her again, I’ll kill you without any hesitation.”
Emris’s voice is cold, not like the kind I’ve heard already. No, this time it’s different. This time it’s stripped of all emotion, with no warmth left.
My whole body breaks out in goosebumps while everyone else has gone quiet, eyes on the scene unfolding in front of them.
“Fuck off, pretty boy. She can do whatever she wants,” he forces out, and when Emris finally releases Troy, he rubs his throat.
It doesn’t take long for him to recover and charge at Emris, though. Troy is nothing compared to Emris, and right now, Emris looks like he’s about to snap. Troy tries to swing at him, but Emris steps back, causing Troy to almost fall to the ground. Thankfully, Carson steps in.
“Alright, let’s cool it. I think it’s time to call it a night,” Carson declares, stepping between Emris and Troy, trying to break up the fight. Carson grips Troy’s shoulder, and he steps back, smiling as his eyes clash with mine.
