Page 58 of Between the Stars

“Are you right- or left-handed?” the douche next to my bed asks.

I stare at him. I see two of him, but I know both are assholes. I don’t want to answer him, but I do for reasons I’m not sure. Maybe to see what his angle is here. “Right.”

Why the fuck am I answering him? Why the fuck is he here? How could she do this to me?

He smiles. “You’re gonna be getting a lot of use out of that right hand, aren’t you?”

Ah, yes, he knows I fucked his fiancée, doesn’t he? I can see it in his eyes. But you know, I’m more pissed off she brought him here. What a slap in my fucking face.

He nods to the door, the place where Abbi occupies outside of it. “It’s a beautiful view, isn’t it?”

I stare at him and plaster on a face of indifference. No way I’m answering him.

He smiles again, and I’ll give him this much, he’s trying to be intimating but I’ve been face-to-face with a bull ready to gore me. This guy doesn’t scare me. Not in the slightest. “I see the way you’re looking at her, and let me remind you, she’s taken. Iownher.”

I smirk and lick my dry lips. I wait, draw out my response longer than needed and wish I had use of my arm he’s next to so I could grab him by the throat. “Nobody owns Abigale Lockett.” I ease my tone to a careless level, trying desperately not to show my obsession with the girl outside the door. No, I’m not going to let the memories of moonlight on her face, begging me for more to invade my head. I’m going to play this part. I’m going to inflict as much pain as I feel. “And how does it feel to know she thinks of me when she fucks you?”

Yep. I went there. Blame it on the pain pills, or don’t, because you fucking know I’d say this shit to this guy, high or not.

His lips twitch into a smile and the lines of concentration deepen in his brow. He’s amused, but I can see the rage brewing. His weight shifts from one foot to another, a display of nervousness. “Ah, so you have been with her?”

I maintain a poker face and stare at the wall. “That’s none of your business.”

His eyes dim, all traces of humor gone. “By the look on your face, and hers, I’d say my theory is confirmed you two had something going over Christmas.”

I blow out a breath, my throat so dry it hurts to swallow. I struggle to form words, not because I’m at a loss but from the tightness in my chest. “I… don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He waits until I glance at him before he hands me a cold, hard-eyed smile. But I see the fear in his eyes. He knows, deep down, he will never have the pieces of her heart I hold hostage. “I’ll let you in on a secret,cowboy. The past is a past for a reason. Leave it there.”

And the future is yet to be decided, jackass.

“Maybe you should take your own advice,Tennessee.” We’re locked in a moment, her past, her future in the same room, but I’m too tired to muster a response. All I know is if I could lift my arm, I’d send his ass flying toward the wall for coming in here. I give him a slow wink. “If you want some tips on how to make her come in seconds, I’m high enough right now I might share.”

Seconds pass. His eyes slice to mine. Griff chuckles, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “I don’t think I need any. I’m the one who got a ring on her finger.”

“Cute.” I shift in the bed, groaning, and try to breathe normal. Worthless effort with her near me. “But I’ll letyouin on a secret.” Our eyes lock and he knows he’s fucked. “You’re always going to be sharing her with me.” I fight to stay awake, my words drawn out. “You and I both know she craves cowboy dick, and you’re never gonna be what I am to her.”

My words sink in. The annoyance in his eyes hearing the truth, the reality setting in. Let it dig deep like my resentment for the one who brought him here.

Rhett appears at the door, a bottle of whiskey in one hand, a teddy bear in the other. He holds up the bear. “Girls sent this.” He waves the whiskey around. “Bishop added this.”

I smirk and draw in a breath. It hurts to breathe. “What’d you bring?”

“My awesome self.”

Griff snorts and walks out of the room, bumping his shoulder into Rhett in the process.

Rhett shakes his head. “I’ve never liked him.”

I sigh, the pain medication the nurse gave me moments ago starting to kick in. My eyes feel heavy. “If you don’t like him now, you should have seen him five minutes ago.”

“I’d rather not.” Rhett takes a seat next to me and sighs. “Fuck, man, you did a number on your arm. That was a lot of blood.”

I chuckle. “It’s still attached.”

“Barely.” He laughs. “I think I found a chicken eating part of your bone.”

“At least Sev didn’t take it.” I turn my head to look at him, the muscles in my body tight, but at the same time, relaxed. There’s a shooting pain that starts in my shoulder and spans across my chest to my other arm. “Were the girls okay?”

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