We’re drawing a small audience from the people surrounding us. I dare him to fight me with my fierce glare. I’d love nothing more than to wrench his arm and break every bone in it for thinking he has any permission to touch her.
He stares me down for another beat, then loses his bravado, paling at the way I twist his wrist. He lets her go, stumbling back. It puts more pressure on the position I have his arm in. His eyes bulge.
“Okay, okay, chill, my guy!”
“Apologize to her,” I growl.
“I’m sorry,” he yelps.
I glance at her. Her breath hitches at my intense gaze. Realizing I’m waiting for her decision, she gives a small nod. My lips thin. I’d prefer if he made a better effort, but the sooner he’s away from her the better.
“Go learn what consent looks like before you ever step foot in here again, asshole. I’ll be watching.”
When I release him, he pushes past the onlookers without a backwards glance. Once people realize the show’s over, they resume dancing, jostling us. I shift to block her from being bumped.
Blowing out a breath, I take her hand and tug gently. “Come on, Evie.”
She clutches it, her gaze searching. Whatever she reads on my face makes her stifle a faint, surprised noise. I barely make it out over the music.
This is like New Year’s Eve at midnight all over again.
The need to kiss her scorches me from the inside out, far more intense than any of the countless moments I’ve wished to in the last four months.
It would be so fucking easy. An inch of distance to erase, then my mouth would claim hers for this whole damn bar, this whole damntownto know Eve Lombard is my girl.
She turns to her nearest friend that’s watching us with interest. “I’m going to head out.” She reaches for a hug without dropping my hand. “Love you guys.”
“Call us this week,” Caroline says with a pointed glance at me.
“Yup,” Eve says brightly with a nervous laugh. “Definitely. Craft night soon? Okay, great, bye!”
She steps into me. I stare her down and lace our fingers. It makes her scrape her teeth over her lip.
“Let’s go,” she says.
I keep her close as I lead her to the exit. The group of hockey guys I was with are still in their corner, unaware of the source of the commotion and back to joking around with each other. Good. I don’t need them noticing us right now.
Walking out of here holding her hand is enough to get residents talking in Heston Lake if they were able to spot us amidst the crush of college kids. Kissing her in The Landmark would’ve set the rumor mill on fire.
I only hope this isn’t enough to get back to her dad or her brother, but I can’t find the will to care about pissing them off more than I want her to know how I feel about her.
TWENTY-TWO
EVE
The night airis balmy and thick with humidity. Cole doesn’t let go of my hand and my heart drums harder with each step.
We reach his Bronco and he still doesn’t break our connection. I’m hesitant to shatter this moment because it feels so good to have his hand wrapped around mine. He’s the first to end the silence, squeezing my hand.
“Did he mean anything?”
He asks so quietly it breaks my heart. I swallow, trying to slow my racing heart.
“No,” I promise. “Nothing at all.”
The tense set of his shoulders eases. “Then tell me this…”
He corrals me until I’m leaning against the car. The loss is palpable when he drops my hand. I swallow when he braces a palm beside me as if he’s forcing himself to stay at arms length.
