She raises a perfectly groomed eyebrow, her face bright with challenge. “You think I want to fight you? Well, I could, I am trained in three martial arts. My father made sure of it.” Her eyes travel me up and down. “And you’re a twig. I could break you in two.”
She thinks I want to physically fight her? Goes to show how little she knows of the real fights in this world, the ones that aren’t done with fists.
I shrug nonchalantly. “I didn’t grow up with a father. I grew up in foster care and I learned that there’s a hell of a lot more to fighting than martial arts.” I hate that all this mean-girl shit is so cliché, but in the real world, there are mean girls, many who are far worse than Bree. She’s not my first and she won’t be my last. She needs to know where I stand. “But it doesn’t matter,” I continue, “because I’m not going to fight you, Bree. I’m not interested in your drama.”
The word drama seems to send her over the edge. I’ve struck a chord.
“Aw, you scared?” There’s a vengeance growing within her, something rooted much deeper than anything to do with me. I’m just the current punching bag, someone to take out her frustrations on. But this isn’t about me, this is about her.
“Actually, no. I’m not afraid of you. I don’t need to hurt you because insecure people like you are already doing it to yourself on a daily basis.”
Her mouth pops open in shock. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means you’re picking on me because you’re upset that Cooper won’t date you for real. You’re hurt by his actions, but you don’t have the courage to be honest with him about it, so you’re picking on me instead. You see me as someone who is unable to defend herself, an easy target. But here’s the thing, I’m not playing your game. Hit me and I’ll hit back if I have to defend myself, but you won’t hurt me where it counts.” I make sure to emphasize my last line. “Because I don’t care what you think about me.”
Her face reddens—she’s a predator who’s been caught. And what do wild animals do when caught? They lash out.
“I’m not surprised you don’t have a father,” she sneers, shifting closer, voice trembling. “He probably took one look at you as a crack baby and bailed.”
My heart falls. People have said a lot of mean things to me over the years and I would like to let this roll off my back, but it sticks. And it hurts. But I can’t let her see how sharp her words truly are to me or she’ll keep going, so I don’t let myself react.
Doesn’t matter. She grins, triumphant.
“That’s enough,” a furious voice hisses.
Ethan.
We turn to find the man glaring down at us, rage darkening his features.
“Hi, Ethan.” Bree has the audacity to bat her eyelashes but he’s unfazed.
“Cooper, come and rein in your bitch,” he booms, drawing the attention of everyone in the basement. He doesn’t take his eyes off us.
No surprise, Cooper is nowhere to be found.
“Are you calling me a bitch?” Bree tries to play it off as a joke but Ethan’s not laughing.
“I am. I heard what you said. That was fucking low, even for you.”
I blink at Ethan. The man who has been nothing but cold towards me is now defending me? Is this his protective bullshit again?
“She started it,” Bree tries.
“Excuse me?” I laugh.
“I doubt that.” Ethan’s voice drips with venom.
Bree acts shocked and innocent, making me hate her more than I already do. I’m done. I’m done being treated like her doormat, like my presence in this home warrants her walking all over me. “You targeted me, not the other way around. Stop lying.”
She doesn’t even look my way. “Ethan, are you really going to choose her side over mine? She’s the one who looks?—”
“Shut up,” Ethan roars and Bree’s mouth closes tight. It’s not like her. Something’s up.
“I’m the one who looks . . . what?” I try. “Say it.”
But nobody says anything, except for Ethan yelling for Cooper again, who remains missing. Bree and I both know there’s nothing she can add, that I didn’t actually do anything to her but tell the truth about her insecurities.
“Where the fuck is my brother?” Ethan asks, turning toward the onlookers who have mostly stopped the party to gawk at our exchange.