I’m off my stool the second the syllable leaves his stupid fucking mouth. It topples over as my fist meets his face and he flies backward, hitting the ground. I’m on top of him, swinging hit after hit into his smug face as a rough grip closes around my right arm.
Then another around my left.
I’m hauled from the bastard a heartbeat later, finding my feet as I stand shaking from head to toe.
That.
One derogatory word Maggie’s way, and I transform into some kind of crazed Neanderthal.
I’ve lost it. Over a woman who is purely my friend and kinda coworker. Maybe it’s the long day, or the way we sat for hours trading missed glances all the way here. Somewhere deep down, this attraction I’m fighting has flipped its lid.
Knox rolls over, clambering to his feet, his hand pressed over a busted lip. He’s lucky that’s all I gave him. Asshole.
He takes a step forward. “Of all the losers on all the circuits, she traded down for you. Girl must not know what she’s missing.”
He glances down the bar to my right then turns on his heel and leaves.
Spencer and Brady release their grip as I track the direction of his gaze. Maggie stands at the bar, eyes widened. Her arms crossed over her chest.
In shorts, a fresh T-shirt, and boots, her curls loose around her shoulders, she looks... Like she’s stalking toward me.
“You okay?” Her tone is anything but sympathetic.
“Fine,” I grind out.
“I’m going to bed. You can bunk with Brady.”
I hang my head. Of all the stupid fucking things I’ve done. After the last interaction with Knox... I should have known better. I should have ignored his shit talk and let the issue die. Now I’ve made everything ten times worse.
A hand slaps my back. Spence closes in. “Well, guess we know who you’re talking about now.”
I give him the side-eye straight from the depths of hell, and Brady chuckles. “And just like that, your problem fixed itself. Doubt you’re rolling in the hay with that gorgeous woman anymore.”
“I’m not?—”
“Yeah, yeah. We know, there’s nothing between you two.” Spencer rolls his eyes at me now. I grumble something about finding my gear and calling it a night, and they both exchange a glance before heading outside with me. We wander through the vehicles until we reach Spence’s truck.
I glance over at Betsy. “I should grab my stuff before Maggie goes to sleep.”
Brady leans on his truck. “Yeah, maybe one of us should retrieve your belongings.”
Did I really burn that bridge down to ashes?
“No, it’s fine. I made the mess. I’ll clean it up.”
I start for her van when Spence calls out, “I’m no expert on women, but maybe she wants some space, bud?”
“You could invite her to the lake tomorrow, you know, like an apology?” Brady adds.
I pretend not to hear him, desperate to see if Maggie is okay. As I reach the van, I find the side door is open and she is sitting on her bunk in her pajamas. Her laptop sits on top of the sheet on her legs. Her earbuds are in as she taps away on the keyboard.
I rap my knuckles on the side of the van.
She doesn’t look from her screen. I’m not sure if that’s because she’s actively ignoring me or she can’t hear me.
“Maggie?” I knock again.
Her typing stops.
