Okay, what the hell was going on?
I hurried toward the open barn doors and slipped inside only to feel like I’d been hit by a ton of bricks. Hux stood against one of the stall doors while Georgette kissed him.
What the hell was happening? Why was she kissing him? My mind and heart had gone into overdrive and it’s like I couldn’t comprehend what I was seeing.
Hux pushed away immediately, revulsion written plainly across his face as he wiped the back of his hand over his mouth. “What the fuck, Georgette?” he snapped.
Before she could do anything else, he was stomping down the barn aisle toward the doors I stood in. He didn’t get far as he crashed into the wheelbarrow and stumbled over himself. Georgette was there before I could even take a step forward, ready to sink her claws in. To do what exactly, I wasn't sure, but if she'd already tried to kiss him, I don't know what else she'd try to do while he was vulnerable.
God, I really hated that bitch.
Anger boiled like lava in my veins as I stepped forward, finally making myself known. I’d seen enough. “Do not. Fucking. Touch. Him. Again,” I spat, the words like venom on my tongue.
“Quinn! I—he. He kissed me! He came at me and—”
“I knowexactlywhat happened,” I said with a calm I most certainly didn’t feel. My hands trembled at my sides, tears of anger burned in my eyes, but I wouldn’t let them fall.
“Quinn.” Hux’s tone was a mixture of shock, relief, and a twinge of fear. I flicked my gaze to him, finding the look on his face pleading as he gazed in the general direction of my voice. He looked so vulnerable and scared in that moment. Like he thought I’d actually believe Georgette’s words. “I didn’t. I promise.”
And even though I was still angry with him, even though we still needed to talk about last night, I made my way to his side and slid my hand into his.
Aiming my gaze at Georgette, I said, “I think you need to leave.”
“Quinn—I. Please.”
“Now.” Even I was impressed with the finality in my tone. “I don’t suspect my dad will be very happy with you when he finds out what you did.”
She didn’t cower or balk at my words, instead puffed herself up like a goddamn rooster and sneered at me. “Who’s he going to believe?”
“He won’t believe you over me, that’s for damn sure.”
Georgette raised her nose high in the air, her dark gaze vicious and sharp as daggers. “We’ll see about that.”
I huffed a laugh and shook my head. God, she really was delusional. “Yeah, I guess we will.”
She let out a squeal of rage before stomping her foot—yes, a thirty-year-old womanstompedher foot—and marched herself out of the barn, making sure to aim a hate-filled gaze mine and Hux’s way. Pretty sure I heard her mumble something about me being a haughty bitch, but I didn’t even deign to respond. She’d get her comeuppance for being a shit human being soon enough.
When she finally disappeared through the door, I let out a deep, shaky breath, but it did little to quell the anger inside me. “God, what a stupid, fucking cunt!” I shouted, unable to hold the words in any longer.
Hux’s soft huff of laughter drew my attention. “You’ll find no argument from me there.”
He seemed to have recovered a bit. The revulsion had disappeared, leaving him looking stone-faced and tired. I squeezed his hand and turned to him.
“Are you okay?” I asked softly.
His brows furrowed beneath his sunglasses. “Me? What do you mean?”
“Hux, she—” Just the thought of what she’d done made bile rise in my throat. “She sexually assaulted you. She cornered you. Tried to take advantage of you.” Each word that came out of my mouth escalated in volume and turned more hysterical. I hadn’t even realized I was talking with my hands so much until Hux brought them down to my sides.
And then I was crying. Sobbing, more like—with rage, with disbelief, with devastation. Honestly, at this point so many emotions barreled into me I didn’t know what exactly had setme off. All I kept thinking was how terrified I’d have been in his position.
Hux drew me in, dragging me against his chest, and I fell apart in his arms as tears flowed down my cheeks and stained his dark t-shirt. He shushed me quietly, running the backs of his knuckles up and down my spine in a slow, soothing motion.
“I’m okay, darlin’. I promise.” When his reassuring words failed, he settled on cupping my face in his calloused hands and forced me to look up at him. “Breathe, Quinn. Breathe.”
I was helpless but to listen, following his orders and taking in slow, deep breaths before holding them in for one second, two, then letting them out.
“Good girl. Again.”
