Page 28 of The Hearts We Fumble
Before she can open her mouth, I grab her wrist, pulling her with me through the crowd, toward the front door, where we’re less likely to have an audience.
She stumbles against my pace, her free hand grabbing onto my forearm as she shouts over the music.
“Zane, slow down!”
I do.
A little.
But I don’t stop until we’re off to the side, near one of the back walls, away from the crowd, the tables, away from prying eyes.
I release her wrist, but she barely has time to steady herself before I press my palms against the wall on either side of her, boxing her in.
Her chest rises and falls, her jaw tight, her shoulders squared like she’s bracing for impact.
“What the hell, Zane?” she snaps. “What do you want?”
I exhale sharply, my pulse still pounding from the scene at the bar.
“Is that who you were with when you went to Alpha Nu?”
Wyatt’s lips part, but instead of answering, she lifts her chin defiantly.
“Maybe? What the hell do you care?”
Her voice is sharp, her tone challenging, like she’s daring me to answer.
“Despite the shit you just pulled, you’renotmy brother, Zane.” She pushes at my chest, but I don’t move. “I don’t know what kind of game you think you’re playing, but scaring off guys I’m interested in won’t bode well for you.”
My fingers curl into fists against the wall, jaw ticking.
“Why do I care?” I repeat, letting out a dark laugh. “For starters, you’re too fuckin’ good for that guy. A guy from Keaton, Wyatt? Are you fuckin’ serious?”
She arches a brow, that infuriating smirk curling at the corner of her lips.
“Careful, Zane. You’re starting to sound a little jealous.”
I step closer, my voice low, steady, unshaken.
“Knock it off. That’s not what this is about, and you damn well know it.”
She tilts her head, crossing her arms over her chest, the motion pressing her body against mine for the briefest of seconds.
“Oh, it’s not?” she taunts. “Then what is this about? Since you seem to think you know everything.”
I let out a slow breath, raking a hand through my hair before dropping it to my side.
“Don’t you think this fight between us has gone on long enough?”
She stills, but her expression doesn’t soften.
“You want to have it out with me?” I push. “You want to tell me off for what happened? Do it. Right now. Get it out. Get it over with so we can stop pretending this doesn’t exist and move the hell on.”
Wyatt’s arms tighten around her chest, her expression locked down, unreadable.
“I’m not doing this with you, Zane.”
Her voice is flat, but I don’t miss the way she swallows hard.
