Page 49 of Through the Flames
I turned to face him fully then, closing the gap so fast he stumbled back into the tiled wall.
My hand shot out, fisting the collar of his polo, and I lifted just enough for his shoes to squeak against the floor.
He tried to shove me off, but I didn’t budge. Even if I hadn’t been prepared for this move, it would’ve taken a lot more to actually move someone my size.
“Psycho?” I murmured. “You havenoidea.”
His pulse throbbed in his throat, right under my knuckles.
“You think this is a coincidence? You think you just happened to get matched with her? No. I let this happen. I wanted to see what kind of man you were, and I was right; you’renothing. You’re practice. You’re a footnote in her story.”
I dropped him suddenly, and he staggered, catching himself on the sink. His face was pale now, his breath ragged.
I leaned in one last time.
“Walk away. Don’t text her. Don’t call her. Fuck, don’t eventhink her name. If you do, I’ll know, and I promise you …” I let my hand curl into a fist, slamming it once into the tiled wall an inch from his ear. He flinched so hard he nearly crumpled to the floor. “Next time, I won’t stop at the wall.”
I left him there shaking, water dripping from the faucet where his hand had slipped.
By the time I returned to the bar, he was already gone, bolting past the hostess stand, mumbling something about an emergency. He didn’t even look back.
Knew he wasn’t good enough for her.
Ella sat alone at the table by the window, her napkin twisted in her hands, her eyes flicking toward the door with confusion. She checked her phone, her teeth sinking into her lip, and then sighed.
She looked so small just then. Small, but not broken.
I wanted to go to her. Slide into the seat across from her and tell her the truth: that she was mine, that no one would ever touch her without my permission.
But she wasn’t ready to hear those words yet.
So I stayed in the shadows and watched her gather her purse, rise to her feet, and walk out into the night.
I followed her at a safe distance.
My girl was never as alone as she thought herself to be.
I pulled my phone from my pocket and opened my text thread with Colt.
Hunter: I helped you with your little problem with Hailey’s dad. Time you returned the favor.
Colt: Okay, crazy way to start a convo, bro … slow down. WHAT exactly do you want me to do?
Hunter: Nudge Hailey to mention to Ella that I haven’t gotten a new roommate since you moved out. Room’s free. Keep it casual. Make it seem like nothing’s planned.
Colt: Ella? Why?
Hunter: Don’t ask questions you don’t want to know the answer to.
Colt: I DO WANT TO KNOW
Colt: That’s why I asked
Hunter: …
Colt: You could’ve told me you had a thing for Ella, you know.
Hunter: I could have
