Page 76 of Bourbon and Lies

“How can you fucking say that?”

I don’t think so.I point at him as I step closer to Laney. “Watch your mouth when you’re talking to my girl.”

The corner of her mouth tips up as I step forward just enough to create more space in between them. I place my hand on her lower back, and she moves just a fraction closer.

“What are you even doing here?”

“I should say the same about you. I’ve been calling and texting.” Even though he tries to keep his voice down, it comes out rushed when he says, “We were...” He takes a shaky breath. “You just disappeared.”

“Should’ve told you something.” I stare him down, and she relaxes just a bit more into my hand. The tense way she’s got herhands balled up at her sides and posture perfectly straight, it’s obvious that she’s more than uncomfortable with him.

He raises his hand up at me, as if that’s going to stop me. “This is between us,” he says, eyes narrowed.

I look toward the front of the room and catch Brady’s attention. The sheer size of him clears a path.

When my eyes drift, so do hers, as she tilts her head to see past his shoulder. There are a few guys near the bar paying attention to this exchange. “Is this your bachelor trip?” But she doesn’t let him answer. Instead, she smiles and shakes her head. “Go back to your life. Go get married and have a fuck ton of kids, for all I care. But do me a favor, forget about ever seeing me here and let me live mine.”

“You don’t mean that.”

It’s like he hits a switch with those few words, because her entire body tenses, and this time, she’s not nervous. She’s pissed. “You’re going to tell me what I mean now? How about what I want? Are you going to tell me that too? I’ll tell you what I didn’t want. You. That night. I didn’t—” She sucks in a breath, trying to steady her words. “I didn’t want it to get that far and...”

“What are you saying?” he spits back. “You wanted me the same way I wanted you. Don’t pretend like you didn’t.”

“No, I wanted someone I used to know, and you wanted to feel something before you went ahead and promised yourself to someone else. I made a mistake.”

I’ve had enough. She’s had enough. I lean into her and tell her, “Hadley’s office is the last door on the right.”

She looks up at me, tears brimming her eyes. “He’s not worth it.”

She’s right, but I can’t just let this guy think he’s gotten the last word. He treated her like a convenient side-piece. To me, she’s the only person I want to focus on. “I’m just going to make sure he finds the exit.”

With a wave of my hand, Brady comes up quickly, asking him to leave.

“Are you kidding me? This is my bachelor party.”

Brady just smirks at him. “Looks like your party is moving somewhere else.”

I glance up at the stairs and see Lincoln watching all of this happen. He’ll have my back if I need it. And right now, there’s no way this guy is leaving Fiasco without a reminder of why he should never come back. I follow Brady as he escorts Phillip out the front door and through the bakery. When his feet hit the sidewalk, I don’t stop.

“Now that it’s just us, let me be a little clearer about exactly who I am.”

He looks over my shoulder toward his friends who are on my heels. I’m outnumbered, but I can handle guys like this—all talk, barely any substance.

“I gotta head back in, Grant,” Brady says from the door.

“I’ll be right there. Let Lincoln know I’m out here, will ya?” I turn back to the asshole. My body thrums with a mix of anger and anxiety to get back inside to Laney. “You’re going to do as she asked. Because if you don't, I have no problem sharing with some of your friends in New York, specifically at your place of business, that you’re a lying cheat.” I rub my palm against the scruff on my cheek. “I have a feeling your soon to be father-in-law might find that information a little bit interesting, don’t you think?”

His lips part just enough to know I’ve surprised him. He was expecting a right hook, but with guys like him, I’d rather hit where it hurts.

“Grant, you alright out here?” Lincoln calls out from the door.Right on time.

“All good, just making sure my friend finds his way home.”

I turn toward Phillip, his eyes shifting behind me, clearly nervous about the way I’m stalking toward him. “You’re going to forget about her. You’re going to forget you saw her here. You’re not going to mention it to anyone.”

He holds up his hands, flinching back at my proximity. “Listen, man, I don’t want trouble. Is she okay?”

“She’s not your business anymore. She’s mine. I want you out of my town. Tonight.” I take a step closer. “If I find out you’ve even said so much as her name again—even if it’s to tell your fiancée what you did—I will make your life hell.”

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