My temples throb, and my heart is set. Rosie grabs the back of my blazer.
“You’re insecure. She’s smarter than you. Better in every way. You know that, and it scares you. You attack her and hope it’ll help. It doesn’t. You’re a sad excuse of a boy.”
I don’t remember moving while I berate him, but somehow his back has become pressed against the wooden stool he’s standing in front of. I’m towering over him, looking down at the person who has made the girl of my dreams cry countless times, and I’m not finished.
“Rosalie is a woman who will exceed you in everything. That scares you. That’s what makes you pathetic. You’re a loser, Jeremiah.”
I spit the words out. They feel like acid, burning and excruciating. So unlike anything I’ve ever said before. I hope they hurt him ten times more.
Jeremiah blinks, glances between us, and takes a deep breath. His chest shakes under the blinking lights. “Locke, I’m sorry. I don’t want to piss you off. I didn’t know she dug her claws so deep into you.”
My vision goes red.
“It’s her you should be apologizing to!” He’s tumbling over the stool now, reaching to steady himself while I force myself more into his space. “I don’t want to find out you’ve insulted her again. Not one whispered joke between you and the pieces of shit you call friends. Not another one of those half-subtle jabs you think are smart. Nothing. Ever.”
I have to bend my head low to get in his face. It’s fitting, since he’s so small, in both brain and body. “Do you want to guess what I’ll do to you, Jeremiah, if I find out you upset my girl again?”
He shakes his head furiously.
I have a few things in mind. Ruining his name in the finance space, running his reputation through the mud, calling every connection my father has to make sure he doesn’t achieve any of his aspirations for the rest of his life.
I would have to use my last name to do it. I hate the thought of it, but I’d do it. For Rosie, I would do anything.
When Jeremiah’s face scrunches in fear, I start to back away. I step to the side and throw a thumb behind me.
“Apologize to her. Now.”
Rosie appears at my side and wraps one arm around my waist. Her shoulders are set, back straight, chin up, and pride runs through my chest.
Jeremiah takes too long a pause, and I bark out, “I saidnow.”
“I’m sorry, Rosie. For what I said tonight.”
“Only tonight?”
She laughs and covers her mouth. I keep my glare set on Jeremiah, and he shrinks again.
“And everything before that. I’m sorry.”
“And?”
“Love.” Rosie is smiling but shaking her head. “That’s enough.”
It’s not. I’ve seen her come home crying and stressing over her future too many times. I nod at Jeremiah once more.
“And it won’t happen again.”
It’s still not enough for me, but Rosie tilts her head at me and I sigh. What she says goes. If she’s satisfied, then I’ll take it.
“Thank you, Jeremiah.” Her lips press together and she squeezes my waist. “It’s long overdue, and you needed another man to point out your wrongs, so apology not accepted. Good effort, though.”
He gapes, jaw dropped open. I let out a loud laugh, and Rosie moves her hand from my waist to my wrist.
“Locke, let’s go.”
We break out of the crowd I didn’t notice gathering. In the midst of knocking shoulders and Rosie yanking me away from the group, I see a handful of people with their phones out.
My heart should drop. My first instinct should be to call my father and do damage control before something hits his publicist’s timeline. I should care about being reprimanded for acting out and not upholding the name he wants me to.
