Page 51 of F*ck You

“What was that out there?” I demanded, when I found her washing her face in the large sink. “You didn’t say or do anything. You could’ve given her a broken nose as you threw her overboard, but you didn’t even flinch.”

She finished drying her face and turned to look at me with exasperation on her features. “The only thing I’m good for is violence?”

“No, that’s not what I mean. Something’s not right here and I know it.”

“What aren’t you telling us?” Chase questioned.

“I know how important it is for you two to stay on good terms with that family. I can punch Giana’s lights out any other time, but her family is here, and I figured this wouldn’t be the best time to throw down with the bitch. I don’t want to ruin things for you guys, I and want you to be able to get new equipment.” She rolled her eyes at our dumbfounded expressions. “Yes, I know about that. I heard people talking. I don’t want to ruin this for you and risk you hating me if I did.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that. The fact that she thought we’d care more about money than how she was treated really struck me. “Starfish…”

Her eyebrows knitted together at the nickname. “Why do you call me that anyway?”

I smiled. “Because a starfish is an incredibly tough creature. Beautiful to look at, but it’s nearly impossible to get through the tough outer layer even with excessive force. Not to mention how your eyes widened the first time you saw one when we were snorkeling.” I chuckled as her eyes widened. “Yes, I noticed.”

Without waiting for another response, I reached out and pulled her into my arms. Chase stood nearby, giving us a moment as he casually waited with his hands in his pockets.

“It’s fine, I can handle it.” Her voice was muffled in my shirt.

“Just because you can handle something doesn’t mean you have to. You’re the strongest person I know, and I don’t want to stand by and watch you take anything because you’re worried about us. I was pretty close to messing up her lipstick with my fist myself.”

She pulled back and grinned up at me. “I’d like to see that.”

I chuckled. “I’m sure you would.”

“Okay, your situation aside.” She looked between me and Chase. “Do you think I could keep my job if I reacted? Because, honestly, I kinda like it here.”

I squeezed her arms, trying not to let on how much her last statement affected me. I wanted things to be different, and she was someone I could see lasting.

She didn’t know it, but my days used to be spent keeping to myself and never letting anyone in. I was more closed off than a brick wall until I caught sight of the girl with a fuck-all attitude, and she did the impossible—she made me want to be a better person and strive for a better life. “I’m certain of it, and I will make sure it happens.”

“Sweet. Let’s go.” Without any more of a warning, she pulled away and picked up two full glasses of wine as she stormed toward the door.

Chase and I hurried after her and emerged onto the deck in time to see her empty both glasses over Giana’s head. It took everything I had to keep from grinning with pride.

“There’s our girl,” Chase said, and I nodded, before we both rushed off the boat with her. We could hear Giana’s frustrated squeaks in the background as we headed back toward our homes, and I was grateful we hadn’t left the dock like some of the parties tend to do. Otherwise, this would have been a little more confrontational.

We reached Lee’s condo and she paused to turn around with her hand on the doorknob. “Uh...do you want to stay the night?”

“I think we were kind of planning on it,” Chase replied, as he ascended the few steps up to the front door. “After everything going on tonight, I would feel more comfortable being here.”

“Same here,” I added.

Lee shrugged and stepped inside, and we followed our girl.

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