My heart pounds a little out of rhythm. "Yeah, of course. Whatever you want." I try not to let the worry of what the conversation will lead to get the best of me. I have her here now, and I don't want to taint that with my wandering mind.
Cora smiles but it doesn't meet those stunning eyes. "Thanks, Alec."
God, even hearing her say my name...drives me fucking crazy.
I've never been this insanely mad over a girl, and as great as it is, I can't help but consider how badly it's going to break my heart. I shouldn't get too far ahead of myself; I should appreciate what I have while I have it.
Cora isn't mine. She belongs to herself. And that's how I want it to stay. I want to be a part of her life, even if she feels like my whole entire world.
The couple in front of us grabs their drinks and walks away, giving us the opening to step up and place our order.
But instead of getting to the counter, a guy comes barreling over, almost knocking Cora down, and pushes in front of us.
I react without thinking, my hand latching onto his shoulder and shoving him away. "What the fuck, my guy." I reel back and throw my fist into his face, a couple of his teeth flying out of his mouth and scattering onto the floor.
People gasp and that's when I feel her cool hands on my body. One on my arm, the other on my back.
"Alec." Her voice is calm and immediately pulls my attention.
I release the guy and turn toward her, gripping her shoulders. "Are you okay?" I skim my gaze over her, looking for any sign that I should end this guy, right here, right now.
I don't care who bears witness.
"I'm fine." Cora cranes her neck and grasps my wrist. "Are you? Your hand..."
"What the fuck man, I just wanted a drink." The guy I punched holds his jaw and stumbles to his feet.
"I think you've had enough." I turn around as my hand balls into a fist.
But Cora grabs my arm again, her soft touch securing in me place.
"Break it up!" yells a security guard. He pushes his way past the crowd that gathered and stops to look between me and the guy bleeding from his face. "What happened here?" He glances at the horde around us and death stares at them. "Go somewhere else and get your snacks."
"This guy fucking decked me," the other guy blurts out immediately. "I think I lost a tooth." He runs his tongue along his teeth and his eyes widen. "I think I lost two." He starts toward me. "I'm going to fucking sue you, man."
The security guard slams his hand into the guy’s chest to stop him and I know better than to act too irrationally in front of this guy, even if he is a rent-a-cop.
"And what do you have to say?" The guard faces me.
I shrug. "He had it coming."
The guard pinches his eyes shut and shakes his head slowly. "Really? That's the story you're sticking to."
Cora steps in front of me before I can stop her. "It was me. I hit him."
"What?" the guard asks.
"He's just embarrassed a girl knocked him on his ass. Here, look." She brings her hand forward and shows him her knuckles. "See. It was me, not him."
Her hand is red and inflamed, but from what, I have no idea. Unless I'm completely losing my mind, it was me who punched that guy. But shit, even she has me questioning who did it.
The guard narrows his gaze at her and then at me.
"Bitch is a fucking liar," the drunk guy slurs. "She didn't hit me. She fucking wishes." He grabs his groin and thrusts himself in her direction.
I move around Cora and raise my arm to swing again and the guard shoves both hands into my chest to stop me.
"Whoa, buddy." The guard plants his face in front of mine. "You want to calm down."
