Page 34 of His Big Bad Stick

“I’m not accusing anyone of anything,” Jared says. “Let’s go to the dining room table and I’ll get this taken care of. But I was never here, okay? This is insane for me to be doing. It’s one thing to help you, Colver. You didn’t tell me it was for someone else.”

“I’m an asshole,” I say. “You’re not the first person I’ve pissed off to get what I want. So stitch her arm up, get the fuck out of here, and never talk to me again. Okay?”

Amazing how fast with Abrielle showing up I’m already starting to set parts of my life on fire because of her…

9

Abrielle

I drink.

I’m numb.

This Jared guy is annoyed as hell with me as he finishes stitching me up.

“Listen, Colver has nothing to do with this,” I whisper. “I mean that. When we were younger-”

“He doesn’t need a history lesson,” Colver bellows.

Colver bellowing and being a total jerk right now doesn’t help the visual of this situation.

“Okay, you’re all set,” Jared says. He takes his latex gloves off. “You need to keep it clean and bandaged. Stitches should take care of themselves. Any complications… I don’t know. Go to the hospital and lie through your teeth.”

“I’ll never mention your name,” I say. “It’s Jeff, right?”

Jared isn’t impressed.

He stands up.

He and Colver stare each other down.

I can tell Jared is hurt by this situation.

Colver is like ice. No emotion.

Jared slams the apartment door shut behind him.

Colver walks slowly to the door and twists the lock.

“I’m sorry about that,” I say. “That I put you and him in that position. Maybe I shouldn’t have come here…”

“You fucking think?” Colver growls. “Are you really going to play that card right now, Abrielle? It’s too late. You’re already here. And you didn’t come here to get stitched up for free.”

My mouth goes dry.

Really dry.

This is it. The moment of truth.

“I don’t know if you think I’ve changed all that much. I haven’t. I don’t fucking play games. So what is this?”

My chin quivers. “I’m scared, Colver. I’m scared out of my mind right now. I don’t even want to be in this city.”

Colver’s jaw tightens. “This has to do with a guy. I saw the ring on your finger.”

I glance at the annoying diamond ring and my face turns red.

“That’s not…” I shake my head.

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