Page 19 of Don't Go Faking My Heart

PARKER

PHILIP IS LIVE-STREAMING HIS DUMB FACE ON THE WAY TO THE RIVERWALK.

Sorry, who's Philip?

I resume walking. My phone’s robotic voice makes their texts sound both passionless and menacing. Each text is progressively worse, and I go from walking to sprinting.

PARKER

Her emotionally manipulative scumbag ex!

JANE

Her gaslighting loser ex!

LOU

Her narcissistic scuzzbag ex.

MILLIE

Her dad's the narcissist. Philip is more of a piece of crap sociopath.

LOU

Not the time for a psych lesson, Millie!

Rusty, you're closest! SAVE ASH!

I voice-text a single word in response:

How?

LOU

By any means necessary!

PARKER

Punch him!

LOU

He'll sue you. Do NOT punch him!

The texts are still coming in, but I can't listen anymore. I'm running at full speed and have reached the riverwalk, and up ahead I see …

Ash hugging her tall, rich, handsome, emotionally manipulative scumbag, gaslighting loser, narcissistic scuzzbag, piece of crap sociopath ex.

It feels like a hand wraps around my throat, choking me while another squeezes my frantically beating heart. I can't let this guy near her. This golden hammer with his buffed nails and his expensive Italian shoes is touching the woman I love. He’s holding her casually but possessively, like a spoiled little boy who just got a present he doesn't really care about but he doesn't want anyone else to have.

If I felt anger talking to Teddy, it is nothing to the intense loathing I feel looking at this man.

The thinking part of my brain shuts down, and instinct takes over. I stride to Ash, tap Philip's shoulder, and say, "I'm gonna need you to get your hands off my girlfriend."

CHAPTER SIX

ASH

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