Page 9

“You can’t call your husband for me.”

“I can. I will.” She gives me a quick squeeze then lets go. “Okay, pop the trunk. Let’s get this thing done.”

No matter how much I protest, she isn’t going to take no for an answer, and if I’m honest, I’m happy she isn’t. I’ve never had many close friends; the few I had in high school all moved away. We still talk occasionally but I don’t think I’ve seen any of them in years.

In only a few days, Michelle and Riley and Felix have filled my life with more than work and avoiding my ex. They’ve given me something I haven’t had in a while. Desire to be with people. To talk to them. Hang out. I had those options when I was dating my ex but I didn’t want to. I didn’t like his friends.

Honestly, the more I look back on the months since I met Al, the more I see I never really liked him either. I only agreed to go out with him so he’d stop pestering me.

“Good evening, ladies. Need help?”

A cold fist wraps around my throat, choking off air and words. But my new friend has no such problem. And she has my back too. She’s between me and the man I’m avoiding in less than a second.

“No. Thanks. We’ve got it.”

“Now, what kind of man would I be if I let you do the dirty work? You go on home and I’ll fix Brooke’s car.” My ex puffs his chest out like he’s some big man and I want to hide.

I hate that he makes me want to hide, but I can’t seem to find my voice or the willpower to move.

“You’d be a man that understands the word no.” Michelle’s words have bite. And her stance is one of defense; she’s loose but braced, like she ready for anything.

He takes a moment to size her up before switching his gaze over her shoulder to me. “You really want to keep your friend from her family? I’m right here, nowhere to be and obviously I’m stronger than either of you. I’ll have that tire changed in no time.”

I hate the fake smile he aims at me. It makes my skin crawl, nausea swirl in my belly, words clog my throat.

“As I said, we’ve got this.” Michelle moves a little closer to me, almost in front of me like she’s trying to put a barrier between me and him.

“I can’t leave you here⁠—”

“You can. You will.” Her voice is strong. Something I’m envious of.

“Brooke.” My ex sighs like he’s dealing with a misbehaving child. “I know we’re not together but we’re still friends.”

I can’t hold back a snort of laughter. “You grabbed me and pinned me to a car the other week, threatened me. Nothing in those actions says friend.”

The look in his eyes changes and I know I’ve made a mistake. I’ve poked the bear. His arm shoots out and I brace for impact.

It never comes.

In a move too fast for me to see or even comprehend, Michelle is leaning over my ex. He’s on his knees facing away from her and she has one of his arms twisted up high on his back. Her other hand is at his shoulder, her fingers digging into something that has pain etched on his face and keeps him immobile.

“Do not raise your hand to her.” Her voice is dripping with venom.

“Fuck. Let me go.”

“When I let go. If I let go. You will walk away. You will not look back. And you will not talk to either of us ever again.”

I’m speechless. I can see from his face she’s hurting him and pissing him off. He’s got almost a foot on her in size and is easily twice as wide and I know he’s solid muscle. How the hell did she render him helpless?

“I’m going to count to three.” A cry of pain echoes in the night when she leans closer. “Then I’m going to step back. It will take you a few seconds to get your legs working but once you do, you will. Go. Away.”

Michelle looks up, her gaze locking with mine and without words she directs me to move back. I’d already stepped back when she took him down, but now I move behind my car, pop the trunk, and quickly search out my tire iron.

With cold metal clutched in my hands, I wait. Watch as Michelle straightens and lets go. Watch as she moves away from my ex’s kneeling form and comes to stand beside me. Her words prove true. It takes him a few seconds to get to his feet. I can see in his eyes he wants to come at us, but I lift my hands, show him the weapon I’m holding, and he thinks better of it.

“I should report you,” he spits out, his gaze now locked on Michelle and I hate that she’s now his target.

She laughs like this is a picnic and a man isn’t threatening her. “Yeah, right. I’m sure you want all your buddies to know a five-foot one woman put you on your knees.”