Page 76 of Unloved

He reaches up and grips my face. The gesture isn’t rough, but it’s humiliating.

It’s almost painful how he’s the one making a scene, and yet I’m the one left feeling like a chastised child, embarrassed and trying not to cry.

“Stop it,” I snarl. “Get off me.”

I’m sure my voice is too quiet for anyone in the booming, darkened party atmosphere, but someone hears me because the heat of Tyler’s body is gone the moment I close my eyes.

“What’s going on here?”

Even though I want to sink into the ground out of pure embarrassment, I can’t help the wave of calm that loosens my muscles at the sound of his voice alone.

I blink and Freddy is next to me, standing like a buffer so even if he’s facing both Tyler and me, his shoulder is slightly angled to shield me.

Tyler doesn’t turn his bloodshot gaze from me, but now he looks more unhinged, and my stomach sinks.

“Go away,” Tyler spits.

Freddy clicks his tongue, still smiling, golden hair perfect, pale skin still somehow peachy like he just left the beach, his shirt open slightly so a sliver of his bare chest shows. He looks perfect yet again, and I feel more ridiculous.

“Nah,” Freddy says. “I don’t think I will.”

And then his hand snaps out and grabs Tyler’s chin, tugging hard so he has no choice but to look at the taller, stronger man holding him. His eyes try to dart back to mine, but Freddy jostles him again. Freddy’s hand looks so big against Tyler’s face that I worry he might break his jaw by accident.

“I’m not gonna ask again. We gonna have another problem, bud?”

Tyler looks on the verge of a furious outburst, but instead he tries to jerk his chin out of Freddy’s grip again. This time he manages, but only because Freddy has let him go.

“Wasn’t aware we had a first problem, Fredderic.” Tyler clips the last name almost condescendingly. He seems to have sobered up, like the fear of possibly getting into a fight with a six-three hockey star might have chased away his buzz.

“Oh, we do.” Freddy smirks, crossing his arms casually as his eyes flicker from me to Tyler and back. “About yea high,” he says, tossing his hand up to gently pat the top of my head, careful to avoid my ponytail. “Curly hair.” His hand dusts down to tug lightly at one of the curls loose around my face. “Usually wearing a bow.” This one he says with a giggle—not mocking, but with pure joy as his hand skims over the silk ribbon in my hair. “And loves her sexy books.”

Freddy whispers the last part, so low I don’t think Tyler hears it, but I don’t look at him to check. I’m too distracted by the heat of Matt Fredderic’s gaze on my lips, my cheeks flushing deeply under his attention.

And for now it doesn’t matter if this is part of some macho standoff. Freddy’s attention feels good.

The moment seems to lengthen and grow between us, until I’m sure we’ve been staring at each other for far too long. Someone clears their throat. Tyler, I realize, who I’d almost forgotten was still here while I got lost in the deep green of Freddy’s eyes.

Freddy scowls as he looks back over at Tyler, stepping fully in front of me.

“And it all revolves aroundyoutreating her like fucking shit.”

For a moment, Tyler looks furious. But I watch with my stomach churning as his face slowly morphs from rage into absolute delight.

“Holy shit,” Tyler says, still smiling like he’s won the lottery. He flicks a finger between Freddy and me. “I mean, I knew you were dirty, Ro, but really?Thisis what you want? I guess I was right to make that bet after all. I wonder what Dr. Tinley would think—”

As Tyler speaks, I see every muscle in Freddy freeze, pure fury bleeding over his usually happy and mischievous expression. It’s almost frightening how quickly his mood shifts, and something in my head screams outwrong, wrong, wrong.

Freddy shoots forward to grab Tyler by the collar.

“Shut the fuck up,” Freddy snaps, jerking my ex-boyfriend to slam him against the wall.

“Freddy.” My voice is sharper than I mean it to be, but my heart is racing and everyone in the foyer and living room now has their attention on us. “Leave it.”

Freddy shuts his eyes for a second, releasing his hold on Tyler.

“Taking a ride on the school slut to make me jealous, Ro?” Tyler snaps at me again. I can’t help it, but I flinch and move back, hitting the table and knocking myself into Freddy’s side.

It’s like Tyler knows his best shot at hurting Freddy is through me.

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