“Delicate?” I asked.
“Yes. I’m sure you’ve noticed.”
“That’s not what I’ve noticed at all, actually.”
“I know her far better than you do.”
“And you think that woman is delicate?” I shook my head.
“She’s had a lot happen to her.” He turned to glare at me. “Things you wouldn’t be able to handle.”
“I know.”
He blinked. “Youwhat?”
“I know what happened to her. She told me.”
“When the hell did she do that?”
“When I found out isn’t the point. What matters is that she’s been through hell, and yet, she gets up and tries to be better every single day. That’s not the definition of delicate.”
Joey scoffed. “And you’ve not seen what it does to her to do that.”
“I have, actually.”
He blinked. “What?”
“Unlike some people, I’m capable of seeing it all. Her worst days are terrible, and she gets back up and tries again. Most people would quit, but not her.”
Joey frowned and shook his head. “She’s miserable.”
“Not from my angle.”
“I don’t think I like your angle.” He glared and stepped closer. “I know what kind of man you are. You’re covered in tattoos. You’re way too old for her. And judging by the way you won’t look me in the eyes, you know it.”
“I do.”
“So stay away from her.”
“Is that what she wants?” I asked.
Joey paused. “It doesn’t matter?—”
“Don’t tell me what she wants doesn’t matter because it does. You do realize your friend is a fucking adult, right? She’s capable of making her own choices.”
“Clearly they’re poor ones.”
A flare of anger made its way into my chest. This time, I made myself hold Joey’s gaze. “Do you know what she did when I found out about her past? She begged me not to look at her differently. At the time, I couldn’t imagine it.” I looked him up and down. “Now I see where she got the idea.”
He sucked in a sharp breath. “You don’t know me.”
“But I know her, and she’s not what you think. Let’s talk when you see the woman she is. Not the one you think she is.” I shoved past him, forcing every muscle in my body to move.
He nearly fell over to get out of my way, but he yelled after me, “Hey, I wasn’t done with you!”
“But I’m done with you. And you’re not Piper. It’sveryeasy to say no to you.”
When Piper didn’t come in, I wondered if Joey had tried to talk some sense into her. I was torn between giving her space and going to her apartment.
