Page 42 of Forgive You

His words actually hurt enough to tighten my chest. “I’m not that big of an asshole.”

“You could have fooled me after the way you’ve been acting toward her.”

“Jesus, you sound like Jordan.” Incredulity washes over me as I mirror his stance. “Were you not there the other day when I literally dragged her out of the arms of her date while she was having a panic attack?”

“I was.” He nods, not convinced. “And I also remember her storming off right after.”

“She was fine, okay?” I rub the back of my neck, holding his expression with a sincere look in mine.

He doesn’t know the kind of connection Julie and I have. I would have never let her go if I didn’t think she was okay. She was. The way her brown eyes spit fire at me showed me as much.

“Besides, why do you care?” I sigh, and when I bring my gaze back up, there’s something weird in his.

Something that’s soft, and…caring?What the fuck?

Ford shrugs. “Because you do.”

“What does that mean?” I throw my hands up in frustration.

“It clearly means you have a deep history with this girl! Normally, I’m the only one who’s getting you all grumpy and pissed, but ever since she’s been in LA, you’ve been stomping around like fucking Shrek.”

“I’m not as fat as Shrek.”

“No, but you are as ugly,” he rebukes, and I flip him off. “Look, I mean it. I know I’m fucking around with you, because I’m loving the fact that I can get you all worked up over a girl, but Jason, seriously?”

“What?” The only reason I’m shutting up is because I can’t deal with a Ford that makes sense. It’s like an alternate universe.

“You’re all worked up overa girl. You don’t get worked up about anything, let alone a girl.” He gives me a dare-to-call-me-a-liar look and I fucking hate him. “Plus, the chemistry when the two of you are in a room isin-fucking-sane.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about the fact that either you have fucked her or should fuck her because I get horny just looking at the two of you.”

My eyebrows knit together. “That’s fucking weird.”

No shame, he just smiles. “It’s true. And you should stop torturing yourself and give in to it. In fact, why don’t you?”

“It’s complicated.”

Ford’s eyes roll to the back of his head, and I can’t even blame him. I sound like Hunter. I can’t believe I used to tell my best friend to man the fuck up and tell Charlotte how he felt, and now I’m the one sounding like a Facebook status.

Ford gets called over to the other side of the studio, but he gives me one more glance. “I don’t know what the fuck happened between the two of you, but how about you just grab your balls and man the fuck up?”

He puts action to his words, pushing his palm between his legs, and I pull a face.

“You’re disgusting.” But he also has a point. “I’ll be back in an hour.”

“Where are you going?” he asks, walking backwards with his arms wide.

“None of your business.”

His smirk returns in full force, and this time I can’t bite back my own. “You’re gonna stalk her, aren’t you?”

“No, I’m not.” I laugh, though it’s laced with annoyance. “I’m just gonna check on her.”

“Yeah, like I said;stalker.” Ford points his finger at me. “You better be nice to her, because if you upset her again, Cash is gonna rip your head off.”

“Cash can go fuck himself. And so can you.” I turn on my heels.

---