Page 51 of Hash

“Are you two together?” Jason presses.

“No,” I say at the same time Hash says, “Yes.”

“Alright, look.” Jason throws the napkin that was in his lap onto the table. “I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but I didn’t sign up for this. In fact, I’m actually pretty pissed off you let me take you to this expensive place after we’ve been talking for over a month, and not once have you mentioned you’re with… him.”

“You’ve been talking to this tool for over a month?” Hash asks, his tone dangerously low.

I’m going to kill Frankie.

“No.” I sigh as I slap my palm against my forehead.

“No?” Jason echoes, voice rising at the end. “I have the screenshots to prove that. Your girl has been stepping out on you, dude. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but maybe she finally woke up and realized it was time to scrape off the trash and upgrade.”

Oh my God, he did not just say that.

I remove my palm from my face as I lift my head and stare at him in shock. Hash looks like he’s about two seconds away from dragging Jason out of here by the collar of his shirt.

Hash throws his head back and laughs a humorless laugh, sending a chill down my spine.

My eyes widen as I take in Jason, who, stupidly, doesn’t look fazed.

“Look, how about you go back to your table and let us enjoy our evening. If she wanted to be with you, she would, dude.”

I wince.

Wrong thing to say, Jason.

“I’m not your dude, and she sure as hell isn’t your girl,” Hash says, his voice low before turning to me, his green eyes swirling with anger. “Get your shit and let’s go.”

I look between Hash and Jason, trying to weigh my options. Do I want to get my ass chewed out by Hash, or do I want to continue to drag out this awful date any longer?

I think I’ll risk my chances of being chewed out by Hash. Reaching over to the chair next to me, I grab my purse.

Jason’s mouth drops open. “You’re seriously going with this guy?”

“I’m sorry to cut this short,” I lie. I’m really not. “But I think it’s best if I leave before there are any problems. Thank you for dinner.”

“Oh, there’s already a problem. I took a whore out for dinner. Is it because you can’t afford this place on your own and wanted to use me to get a taste of something you’ll never have on your own?” Jason sneers.

I gasp, and my cheeks flame from embarrassment because he’s partially right. I can’t afford this place without planning it out in advance and saving for it. Other diners are openly staring at our exchange now.

“I’m not a whore,” I hiss at the same time Hash’s hand reaches out and grabs onto the back of Jason’s head before I can blink, smashing it down, Jason’s face bouncing off of his plate, hard.

The plate cracks, echoing throughout the now-silent restaurant.

Hash crouches down, so he’s level with Jason’s face before he leans in and growls in his ear, “If you call my girl a whore again, we’re going to have a problem.” Jason tries to lift his head back up, but Hash grips his hair in his fist, pressing his face down harder into his food, holding him in place. “And for the record, she can afford anything she fucking wants. Want to know how?” Hash pauses, waiting to see if Jason is stupid enough to answer. “Because I’ll fucking get it for her.”

Jason makes a gurgling sound in the pasta sauce as he tries to get his head loose.

“Jesus, Hash. Let him up!” I exclaim, and I wrap my hand around Hash’s wrist, trying to pull his arm away, but it doesn’t budge.

Hash’s glare turns to me. “Get your shit and let’s go. I’m not going to repeat myself again.”

I shake my purse in front of his face. “I was ready before you smashed his face in.”

Hash roughly grabs my hand, dragging me towards the door. A man laughing hysterically in the back corner of the restaurant makes my head turn. Five scary-looking men are all smirking at us. Hash flips them off without faltering a step.

“Was that really necessary back there?” I ask once we’re outside as I rip my hand free from his hold.