Page 63 of Without Regret

A trip to the toilets involved a small queue, and by the time it was our turn, I realized Adrienne was past the point of tipsy. She opened the stall door and exclaimed, “Oh, goody, someone left a liner on the toilet. Fab.”

Eww. But she’d already closed the door before I could verbalize the thought, and well, I couldn’t even pretend concern for Adrienne’s personal hygiene.

As soon as we all finished and returned to the lounge, Avery came to a sudden stop. “Shit.”

“What?”

“Edward, my ex-fiancé, is here.”

I looked over to where a preppy-looking man was staring at Avery. Obviously, this wasn’t a coincidence. I didn’t bother to hide my annoyance with Adrienne, asking, “Did you tell him she’d here?”

Her fake-shocked look made me happy she’d sat on someone else’s toilet liner. Here was hoping it gave her something.

“Why would I do that?”

Yes, why indeed? Avery appeared lost when Edward wasted no time putting his arm around her and started whispering in her ear. Her being a tipsy wasn’t helping her defense mechanisms.

I needed reinforcements and fast. I pulled out my mobile and texted Trevor.

“Need your help. Edward showed up. Avery’s friends set her up.”

His reply came back quickly. “Be there in a few.”

I didn’t know how far away he was from the club, but since his house had been a half-hour drive away, I didn’t expect him anytime soon.

Approaching Edward and Avery, where they stood to one side of the group, I intended to make sure she was okay. But I was intercepted by one of Edward’s frat-boy friends.

“Hey, gorgeous. Let my boy talk to his girl.” His hand gripped my arm.

“Let go of me.”

He smirked while I ripped my arm away from his grasp. I took two steps before the jackass stepped in front of me again. “Whoa, whoa. Can’t let you interrupt, beautiful.”

“Move, or I’ll break your fucking nose.” You didn’t get through the foster care system without becoming scrappy. I could throw a punch that would rearrange his stupid face if he didn’t keep his hands to himself.

“No need for violence, gorgeous.”

When he put his hand on me a second time, I saw red, cocking my arm back and ready to ruin his night. At that moment, another hand gripped my elbow, with a hard body within a breath of mine. I was about to stomp on an instep when a familiar voice came in my ear.

“It’s me, sugar.”

I relaxed instantly while Trevor focused on the idiot in front of me. “Step back before I let her swing. Believe me when I tell you I’m already tempted since you thought it was okay to put your hand on a woman without her permission.”

The other guy held up both hands in mock surrender. “Sorry, man.”

“Apologize to the lady.” Trevor’s voice was low and all alpha. It made me tingle in places that had no business tingling at the moment.

“I’m sorry.” He scrambled out of the way, abandoning his friend as Trevor walked past him toward the pair.

Avery was obviously upset, and Edward was talking with a lot of arm gestures. I could only hear parts of the conversation.

“You have to take me back. You just have to.”

“No, I don’t, Edward.”

“Hi, Avery. You ready to go?”

Although Trevor could’ve demanded his sister leave with us, I liked that he paid her enough respect to leave the option up to her. However if she said no, I might have to carry her out myself. No half-drunk girl should have to confront her ex just because her so-called friends had set her up.

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