Page 74 of Country Charm

I see the dots appear, then disappear, a few times before they stop. I rock onto my heels as I will a flirty response from her. She replies with a single kiss emoji. It’s enough for me to start walking. I file my way through the building, my phone in my hand. I see the bar off to the side and slide my way in between a few bodies.

Me: A real one would be better.

I hit send and scan the crowd, but it only takes a minute before the lights catch a shimmer in a bed of chestnut hair.

I guess the glitter has made a comeback.

A tight body wrapped in light pink satin stands only maybe thirty feet away from me. My feet begin to move to close the space. In her small hand, I see her phone and as she opens it, the illumination offers her face lighting, and I see a small smile touch her lips, but it’s quickly washed away by an annoyed look.

A knife is driven into my chest, as I try to dismiss herlook. I remind myself that we have just fought, but quickly a different realization is brought forth.

Next to my girl, who honestly looks like a fairy in this crowd, is a snake. He’s on her left and close to her, speaking directly into her ear. She takes a step to the right, but he steps closer. Her annoyed face is plastered on, and her previous smile is long gone. Her thumbs work across her phone, and I feel a vibration in my back pocket. I ignore it as I get closer.

It’s the little fucker she works with. Don, or Dom. Whatever the fuck his name is. His jaw keeps moving and Cassidy seems like she can’t get a word in. Just to her right is her group, each of the girls wearing a similar pink tone, except Mary. Mary is in white, which makes sense. Cassidy shoots a look over at the girls and they see her vexation as well.

Mary says something to the group and the girls all nod. Cassidy turns to Dom and smiles; she seems to have found an out, but this sleazy fucker takes this as an opportunity to shoot his damn shot.

His mouth moves and I see it all; he slides his hand around her waist—my waist—and goes in for a kiss. My kiss. Cassidy dodges his lips, and they collide with her ear. Her eyes widen as she sees me, shocked and honestly, a little fearful. I’m not sure what she sees in my face, but her eyes dart over to Dom before back to me, her brows slightly turned upward.

It’s as if my body is moving on its own accord. I don’t remember telling my body to grab him. I don’t remember telling my body to throw a punch across his face. I don’t remember telling my body to stand over his and go for a second swing, but as my arm cocks back, small, gentle hands grab my bicep.

I turn to look over my shoulder and I can tell immediately, I am the one who is in trouble, not the douche on the floor.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Cassidy

“Damn it, Hunter! What the hell do you think you’re doing!” I yell, and see Hunter physically flinch. With my hands wrapped around his enormous arm, I pull him back.

Dom is on the floor, holding the side of his face where Hunter decked him. He stands and brushes himself off, trying to appear unaffected. It’s hard to appear that way when someone’s punch just launched you off your feet and onto the floor.

Granted, he had it coming. I was minutes away from slapping him myself. Even if I hadn’t, there was a line of girls behind me that would have.

Hunter follows me as we slip into the crowd and walk past watchful eyes. A bouncer who was making his way toward us just nods at me as I drag Hunter behind me. I must look pissed, or Hunter must look pathetic because no one has stopped us or said anything.

Once we break the threshold, I take a sharp turn and walk a few paces down the street. I find a quieter spot with an open park bench and shove Hunter downonto it. He moves without resistance, sitting immediately and clasping his hands together in front of him.

“Cass,” he starts but stops as I put up a hand.

“I get it, I know what you saw. I understand why it upset you. I can’t sit out here and fight with you tonight. I don’t have time, and I need to focus on the girls.”

He nods at almost every word as I speak.

“Yes ma’am.” How can a large man seem so little? He was just towering over Dom and just about to beat him to a bloody pulp. Now he’s timid and careful.

While I understand why Hunter did what he did, part of me is threatened by that fact. He doesn’t have the right to be upset. He doesn’t need to defend me. I don’t want to find comfort in a man, it makes me uncomfortable and uneasy. It makes me feel like the person I have always been is changing, and I’m not looking to do that.

I am happy with who I am.

I am happy with how I do things.

I am happy sleeping in the middle of my king-size bed alone at night.

I am happy to be able to travel at the drop of a hat if I want to.

I am happy to be able to make decisions for myself without having to consult anyone.

I am happy Hunter came out to just give me a kiss and punched Dom in the face.

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