Page 32 of Fighting Temptation (Men of Honor 1)
I go to jump on her but Jaxson catches me mid-air before I can reach her. “How dare you bring my mother into this you bitch!” I scream trying to kick free of Jaxson’s hold. I hate that tears are streaming down my face showing her just how much her comment hurt.
“I hate you! Why does it always have to be you?” Before she can say anymore Wyatt grabs her arm and drags her out of the restaurant.
Jaxson carries me out and takes me to the opposite side of the parking lot from where she is. “Let me go Jaxson, I’m not done with her yet,” I say still trying to kick free. I’m so insane with rage all I wanna do is hit her again.
“Easy Julia, she’s not worth it. Let it go baby,” Jaxson whispers soothingly in my ear. I slump in his arms and sob as hurt takes over my anger. “I can’t believe she said that about my mother.”
“She knew it would hurt you, don’t let her win Julia.”
He’s right. I settle down and try to get myself under control. Jaxson turns me around so I’m facing him. He puts his hand under my chin forcing me to look at his face and wipes away my tears affectionately.
Then he surprises me when he asks: “When the hell did you turn into Mike Tyson?”
I burst out laughing through my tears and he smiles back. I can only imagine how I looked, I’ve never hit anyone before. I’m a little embarrassed but I don’t regret it. My laughter dies when I think about her comment about my mother, “She deserved it,” I whisper sadly.
He nods his smile fading, “Ya, she did,” then he pulls me to him and wraps me in his arms. I wrap mine around his waist and breathe in his familiar scent. Being up against his hard, warm body brings a familiar comfort that I’ve missed. I hug him tighter and forget about our problems, just for a little while. “You didn’t have to come to my defense Jules,” he whispers in my hair.
“Yes I did, she was way out of line. And it’s not like you can hit her. Plus I had two drinks, so I felt like it was my place.”
He chuckles and rubs my back in comforting circles then leans down and kisses the top of my head.
“What the hell are you doing? Get your fucking hands off of her!”
Oh shit! Wyatt’s rage breaks our moment. Jaxson tenses and pushes me behind him.
“Wyatt calm down!” I say panicked.
Jaxson and Wyatt start towards each other when Cooper and Kayla come running out of nowhere.
“Easy Jaxson,” Coop says standing in between them with his hand on Jaxson’s chest.
Kayla runs up and hugs me tightly, “Jules are you alright?”
“Yes I’m ok,” I hug her back, wondering where they have been this whole time.
She steps back, “I can’t believe what that bitch said! If you hadn’t broken her nose I sure the hell was going to.”
Wyatt interrupts us, “Let’s go Julia, we’re leaving right now!”
“Watch your tone asshole!” Jaxson leans over Cooper and shoves Wyatt.
“It’s ok Jaxson, I wanna go home anyways,” I hug myself feeling cold without his body heat anymore. I go to walk around him when he puts his arm out, stopping me.
“You don’t have to leave with him Julia, come home with us.”
A part of me wants to do just that, especially since Wyatt seems so angry at me. But I’ve already made myself too vulnerable with Jaxson and I need to be up front with Wyatt and end whatever it is he thinks this is.
I don’t look at Jaxson when I answer, afraid I will back down if I do, “I need to go with Wyatt, I’m sorry. We’ll talk later, I promise.”
I start to walk away when Kayla puts her hand on my shoulder, “Julia are you sure?” she looks at Wyatt worriedly.
I give her a reassuring smile, “I’ll be fine Kayla.”
I don’t miss Wyatt’s smug smile at Jaxson before he turns around.
I look up at Jaxson as we drive away and guilt tears into me at the expression on his face.
“What the hell were you thinking, Julia, getting involved with that shit?”
I whip my head around and look at him in shock. Before I can say anything he continues, “You completely embarrassed me. I have an image to uphold, especially for my father.”
Oh my god! He might be the most arrogant person I’ve ever met. “I can’t believe you’re mad at me for standing up for myself. Did you not hear what she said about my mother?”
“She wouldn’t have said anything if you would have minded your own fucking business,” he shouts back at me.
“I was standing up for my friend. She needed to be put in her place.”
“Right! The same friend who threw you away a year ago!”
Ok, that stings. I wish now I would have never told Wyatt about that. Tears prick my eyes at what an asshole he is.
“You know, Melissa didn’t say anything to him that was untrue. Jaxson is a fucking loser, I don’t know why you can’t see that.”
“He is not a loser! Don’t talk about him like that,” I scream at him, angry and hurt. He grips the steering wheel harder and glares at me, sending a jolt of fear through me.
Thankfully we pull up to my house 2 minutes later. I get out quickly not wanting to be in there with him a second longer. Wyatt shuts his car off and I look at him wearily when he walks around to stand in front of me.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m coming in, we aren’t done talking.”
“I have nothing more to say to you. I don’t want to see you again Wyatt, so stay the hell away from me!” I turn to walk away when he grabs my arm in a firm grasp, causing me to wince. His expression is so full of rage that my heart starts to pound in fear.
“Wyatt, let go of my arm!” I say firmly trying to hide the shakiness of my voice.
