Page 101 of Rumor Has It

“Ha! Like you don’t know. Stop fucking around, dude, or at least I suppose you will now.” He half shrugs. “Speaking of fucking around, how’s our girl?”

Rage flows through me like lava, and I fist my hands. “Be careful, Reed. I’m not the same man I was ten years ago.”

“Oh, I suppose I should’ve said which girl, since they could possibly be either of ours.” He smirks, making his beady eyes even smaller.

I step closer, hovering over him. “I’d hate to make you piss your pants—again.”

“It’s a casualty of poking the bear, I suppose.” He grins, but his eyes tell me he’s scared.

I lean in, coming nose to nose with him as his head lulls back. “Good, because if you come within an inch of them, you’re going to be a casualty.”

“Will you ever learn she’s not worth it?” He does his best to glare at me, which has never worked.

“What’s wrong, Thorton? Still jealous you’re not a Hatcher, or just an angry elf?” I growl as I watch his pupils dilate.

He steps back with a huff. “Let’s see who’s laughing after the reunion, and I don’t mean the one at the school.”

“That’s your problem, Reed. You can’t figure out how to be a man, so you pretend.” I chuckle. “You’ve spent so much time wanting to be me, you’ve never figured out who you are or how to be that man, so you continue to try to be me.”

“I know who I am. Maybe I need to remind Mackenzie of it.” He adjusts himself with a cock of his brow.

My body thrums with anger, making me shake as it pushes me to the edge. “Have you forgotten? Even that little prick you’re holding wasn’t enough to erase me from her.”

“It definitely put a halt to you getting her; maybe it can do the trick again.” He laughs, stepping away from me. “I’m not the same man either, Hatcher, and you’d be smart to not forget it.”

My jaw ticks with every grind of it. “Stay away from them. I’m telling you for your own good.”

“Maybe you need to tell that to your girl, or should I say, the town whore as everyone knows her because she’s already called me to meet her, and meet we did. What’s up with that, Hatch? Still not satisfying her itch? She needing my touch because she forgot what it feels like to be treated like a woman?” He narrows his eyes, waiting for me to bite.

I back him up against the side of the building, baring my teeth as I seethe in his direction. “Don’t you fucking dare talk about her like that. I will end you. Do you understand me, Thorton? Or have you forgotten what it feels like?”

“Whatever, asshole. Get out of my face, Hatcher.” He holds his hands up as people pass by, staring at us.

I stick my finger in his face. “I promise, before this is over, I will clear the streets with you.” He slips past me, scurrying down the street.

I stare daggers at him as he makes his way down the sidewalk, shaking hands and smiling as though he’s running for office. “I’m not surprised, he’s always been a drama queen.”

Turning back to the store, I’m rooted to the spot. “He’s going to see them, and he’ll never tell her the truth. Walker’s right—the sooner I tell her, the better the chance of her forgiving me.”