“I’m sorry, Micah. That’s a really sad story. I can see why today would be upsetting for you.”
A laugh slips out of me, but it sounds forced. “I’m not upset. It’s fine, really. I’m just pissed he thinks he can get away with acting like such a jackass after I’ve been bending over backward to take care of him. He’ll apologize once the moment passes, is my point. It’ll be fine.”
Scott still looks concerned, but I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I change the subject and ask him about work.
I’m determined not to think about Tadhg or Patrick or any of the rest of it until I get home. Just like I’m determined to get laid, and fuck Tadhg and whatever he thinks. He can have a front row seat for all I care. Maybe he’ll learn a few things.
I refuse to spend any more time feeling shitty about myself, especially not because of him.
Chapter Fourteen
Savage
When Micah leaves, it’s like he takes all the air in the room with him. My body gives me a split second to decide between raging out or hyperventilating, and it feels like all I’ve done recently is have meltdowns, so there’s really no choice.
I flip the coffee table immediately. Popcorn scatters everywhere and a glass shatters, making me feel a fraction more stable. But it’s not enough.
Pacing up and down the living room, I try to wrestle the anger throbbing in my chest into submission before I do any real damage to Micah’s living room.
I just don’t understand why he’d be so willful. All I’m doing is trying to protect him, and he throws it in my face? How am I supposed to let him go out doing fuck knows what with some stranger, without knowing if he’s going to be safe?
It’s intolerable. Just the thought of someone touching Micah—hurtinghim—makes me want to rip my skin off strip by strip. After I’ve ripped off theirs, obviously.
And the fact that he doesn’t understand that and listen to me makes it all worse. I’m here, watching out for him, and he doesn’t give a shit. All he cares about is his dick. Telling me I’m like my father was a cheap shot, and he said it to hurt me.
Well, he doesn’t know who he’s fucking with. Just because he’s my Bambi doesn’t mean I’m going to let him get away with treating me like shit when I’m the only one looking out for him.
If he thinks he’s bringing his date back here to get off, let’s see how well he does when I bring a date home first. There’s only one bed in this apartment and I’ll be fucking someone in it before I let my little brother get bent over just to prove a stupid point to me.
I told the guys I was going to be spending my sabbatical fucking my way through the local girls, after all. It was a lie at the time, but now my dick’s working again. As much as it ever was. I can power through one night. Maintain my reputation with the Banna and show Micah what he gets for being a slut.
My head feels jumbled; all my thoughts racing so fast, I can barely pick out each individual one. Distantly, I think a part of myself is screaming that this is a bad idea. But I refuse to listen.
I’m too angry. Rage is quivering through me, and it’s not leaving space for any other thoughts or emotions.
Punishing Micah for what he said and what he’s about to do is the only solution.
The dumbass left his car here as well, presumably because he plans to get shitfaced on this date and leave himself even more vulnerable to danger. At least it gives me a way out. Grabbing his keys, I head to the parking lot, and the only thing I can think about is getting a girl back here as quickly as possible so I can finally make Micah pay.
It’s morecrowded than I expected. I don’t know why I came to The Feral Possum, but it’s basically the only place I know around here, and I would still prefer not to run into any of the Banna if I can avoid it. Even if I’m doing something that they’d approve of, for once.
“Sav?” Gunnar looks up at me from behind the bar when I walk in, because the man seems to notice everything immediately.
I went withSavwhen he asked me my name the first time. I shouldn’t spread the name Savage around if I can help it, in case it gets to the wrong ears. Plus, it sounds dumb as fuck to anyone who doesn’t know the Banna or isn’t already afraid of me.
I could use my real name, and it was on the tip of my tongue, but… Micah’s the only one who calls me that.
Savwas a good compromise. It could be short for lots of shit, probably.
“You know you’re not working tonight,” he continues.
“Yeah, I just came for a drink. If that’s cool.”
I don’t know when I turned into this simpering, uncertain thing, but I hate it. I take a deep breath, stand up tall and roll my shoulders back, and then look at Gunnar with an expression that fits Savage the fucking gangster, not Tadhg the loser who has temper tantrums about fights with his stepbrother.
Gunnar gives me a slow, steady once-over, just like he did when we met. I get the feeling that he can see the shift in my demeanor and isn’t impressed, which makes me feel like even more of a dumbass than I did before.
I already hate this and want to go home.
