“I need to head out.”
No messages from Lewis.
“I’ll walk you to your car,” Esteban offers, and I laugh. “What? This area is kinda shady…”
I fake a shudder.
He pays for our drinks, and we stumble out into the night. This evening didn’t go according to plan, and the farther we drift up the sidewalk in silence, the stronger the disappointment uncoiling inside me.
Suddenly, a noise. We freeze in our tracks. Something is following us. I don’t even need to look at him to know. We’re both thinking the exact same thing. Footsteps behind us. Lots of them.
“?‘Simply the best!’?”
A guy is singing Tina Turner, and I know without turning that it’s the barfly. And considering the wild laughter echoing down the street behind us, he’s brought backup.
“I told you not to trigger him,” I mutter to Esteban.
“Maybe they just wanna hang out.”
“Yeah.”
“Split them down the middle?” he suggests, wiggling his fingers.
We’re thinking the same thing. There must be four of them. Two each. Exactly what I need to release the tension simmering away inside me. I promised Lewis I’d be a good girl, but where is he now when I need him? What abouthispromises?
It takes me a split second to decide.
I slow my pace, dropping back to signal to Esteban that I’m good to go.
As soon as a hand settles on my shoulder, I spin around.
Let’s get this show on the road.
“You again?”
Esteban is primed to lunge, ready to pounce on the first guy to move. I home in on the bearded guy. He looks like a frigid little hipster.
“I didn’t appreciate your tone, earlier.”
He squares his shoulders, and I look him up and down. He gives my buddy a quick once-over and gestures to his crew.
Just as I predicted, the hipster makes a play for Esteban, and I deliver a swift kick to his kneecap before slipping behind him and high-kicking him in the small of his back. Esteban charges him, snowplowing him into my fist, and when the guy’s jaw snaps under my hand, all my stress comes pouring out of me.He started it.
I don’t linger too long, stepping over his body and rushing at the next in line, a tall guy who looks like the perfect challenge. This one crumbles way too fast, too, the booze dampening his reflexes, and I bat back a flicker of disappointment.I expected more from you, man.I strike twice between the ribs, finishing him off with an uppercut to the stomach that has him doubled over and puking at my feet.
I leap back just in time to avoid any stains, sandwiched between Esteban and the guy who tried to pick me up, intercepting the hook that was meant for Esteban. It hits me right on the brow bone, andfor a moment I see stars, swaying on my feet as my ex yanks me back behind him. When Esteban lands a sucker punch, the guy crumples to the ground, clutching his head before he staggers to his feet and stumbles off back down the road.
It took barely five minutes to clean up. Once I’m satisfied we’re done here, I bend over to clutch my knees and hurl all over the sidewalk.
I wipe my mouth clean. “That it?”
I’m breathless from the excitement of it all, my head pounding from the punch. I sweep a hand over my face and check my palm.Blood.I swear under my breath.
“That looks bad.” Esteban tilts my chin up for a better look. “You feeling okay?”
“All good.”
“I don’t think you need stitches, but we can go get it checked out?”
