“Shut the fuck up before I bloody your nose, too.”
“I’m his sister.This isn’t what you think it is, but that would require you to actually think,” Mickayla said and from her volume, I knew she’d stepped closer to my back.
I blew out a breath and did my best not to tell her to move backward.She’d never let me hear the end of it, and I didn’t want to take my eyes off this douchebag.
His eyes lit and focused on Mickayla.“Are you free—”
“Shut your fucking mouth,” I said.
“You’re delusional,” Mickayla said at the same time.
“This is mortifying,” Ivy murmured so low, I wasn’t sure anyone else heard her.
“Go home, Austin,” I suggested, but it sounded like an order.
He glared at me, and since I’d become accustomed to the signs, I anticipated his next move.After a beat, his fist came toward my torso, and in the nick of time I caught it in my right hand.
I squeezed his fist hard.“You’re not good at this, Austin.I deal with assholes like you nearly every day.Get the fuck outta here.”
The way he silently groaned reminded me of a dog we had when we were kids.She’d give short groans to let you know how unhappy she was that you weren’t doing what she wanted.Austin didn’t like that I had his fist in a vice grip and he hadn’t put me in my place.
Finally, after one more semi-silent groan, he pulled his fist back, I let it go and with a petulant glare he turned around to leave.
“I guess we have to find somewhere else to go,” Ivy muttered.
Mickayla threw her a grin and chuckled.“I wouldn’t be so sure.”
A moment later, Jasmine, Rafferty’s younger sister came out and approached us.She wasn’t wearing her waitress apron, so I guessed she was working the bar.“I’m supposed to tell you three to leave, but screw that.It’s about time someone gave him what he deserves.He’s been a jerk since the first time I had to serve him.”
“I told him to leave, so you might want to make sure he pays his tab.”
Jasmine flung her long brown hair over her shoulder.“I’m not waiting tables on the main floor, so he won’t be stiffing me.But if you need me to march him out, I’m on it.October’s right around the corner.”
She turned on her heel and went back inside.
“Why is she talking about October?”Ivy asked.
Before I could say I’d tell her later, Mickayla spoke.“She wrestles at Bike Week and Biketoberfest.Her mom was really good back in the day, and Jasmine’s just as good, maybe better, but if you tell Trixie that, I’ll deny it and throw you right under the bus.”
“Okay,” Ivy said.
The door swung open wildly.Austin prowled out with a sandy-brown haired woman following closely behind him.She looked our way.“Austin, tell me what’s goin’ on.Your lip is bleeding!”She looked me up and down.“Did he do that to you?”
“Let’s go, Zoe.”
She stopped and stared at us.
“I said, let’s go, Zoe.”
She looked back at Austin, then narrowed her eyes on us for a beat before she followed him into the parking lot.
“All right.Crisis averted.Let’s get inside, because otherwise a new crisis is going to develop when I become hangry,” Mickayla said.Then she hurried past me and back inside the restaurant.
“I’m so sorry,” Ivy said.
I turned around.The mixture of embarrassment and shame on her face made me want to chase after Austin so I could hit him again.“Come here, babe.”
“I’m right in front of you.”
