“You didn’t, did you?” His voice rose with new nerves. “What were you thinking? You know—”
“Hey,” Jack interrupted, his hand coming up to rest on my back. “Don’t second-guess yourself. We can go if you’re ready.”
“You stay out of this!” Neil snapped. “You shouldn’t even be here right now. Why did you bring him here, Hailey?”
I took another breath, raising my head. “He offered to come. As a friend.”
“Friend. Right.” Neil made a scoffing sound. “I knew it, didn’t I? You have feelings for him. You probably had them long before you spent that night with him. You’re the cheater.”
“Cheater?” I blinked at the accusation. “Being with other people was the whole point, wasn’t it?”
“Not emotionally!” Neil snapped. “You broke us by emotionally cheating.”
“I—” The words died on my tongue. In a way, he was right. If I hadn’t spent the night with Jack, would the morning after have gone the way it had? “It doesn’t matter. It’s over between us. After this, you shouldn’t have a reason to call me.”
I started to turn away.
“Wait!” Neil lunged for me.
Jack caught his arm before he could reach me.
“Don’t touch me!” Neil cried, trying to jerk free.
Jack’s hand tightened on him. “Youdon’t touch her,” he said. Then he released him.
My heart thudded in my chest as I looked past him at Neil.
Neil rubbed his arm. “This is the guy you’re leaving me for?”
I shook my head. “I’m not leaving you for someone else. I’m leaving you because I don’t want to be with you anymore. I can’t.”
“Hailey, wait. Just wait.” Neil dragged in a breath, licking his lips nervously. “We still need to talk. You owe me that much.”
“She doesn’t owe you a damn thing,” Jack said, his hand clenching.
I reached for his fist, wrapping my hand around it. “It’s okay. I’ll talk to him.”
Jack’s hand uncurled, his fingers linking with mine as he eased back to my side.
I studied Neil, noticing how disheveled he looked. His hair stuck up in the back, his shirt was stained, and his jeans hung low, as if he’d lost weight. There was a redness to his eyes, either from crying or from a hangover, maybe both based on the smell of alcohol.
“What do you need to say, Neil?” I asked.
Neil glared at Jack. “Can we have some privacy?”
“No,” Jack said, his hand still in mine.
“Hailey,” Neil whined.
I closed my eyes, taking a breath. Then I pulled my hand free from Jack’s. “It’s okay. I’ll talk to him. Just—” I swallowed, my arms wrapping around myself. “Don’t go far?”
Jack’s lips tightened, but he nodded. He took a step closer to Neil. “You touch her in any way, and the cops will need to come out. Likely an ambulance as well. You understand?”
I stared at Jack, not used to the hard expression on his face.
“Are you threatening me?” Neil asked.
“Just letting you know the consequences up front. Don’t touch her.” Jack didn’t look away from him.
