Page 45 of Falling Too Late

I ran a hand through my hair and sigh. “How’s she doing?”

More people pushed their way into the kitchen, so we moved to the other side of the island.

“She got too hot inside and kinda looked like she had a panic attack.” He shrugged. “She’s had a little too much alcohol I think. It’s probably time for us to take her home.”

Guilt hit me and I gripped the edge of the sink, hanging my head.

“Dude, what’s wrong?” Jon tipped his head to look at me.

“I messed up, man. Amanda and I were upstairs when?—”

I looked up through the window above the sink and saw Wren sitting with Chance.

“You left her with fucking Chance?!” I barked at him, pushing past him out the back door. He was close behind me when we both heard her voice.

“Stop!” Her hand was on Chance’s chest. I didn’t think, I just moved.

“WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?” I grabbed Chance by the front of his shirt with both fists, pulling him eye level to me. I just saw red, my arm pulled back.?

“Alex, stop!” I felt a hand around my arm, holding back my attempt to bash his face in. “Stop, please. It’s not his fault.”??

Still holding him by his shirt, I looked down at Wren. My eyes moved over her.? ??

“What the fuck, man!?” Chance said. “I was just making sure she was okay.”

I turned my glare to him. “That didn’t look like you werejustmaking sure she was okay.” I shoved him back, and he caught himself. “Did she fucking ask you to fucking kiss her?”?

“How would you fucking know? Maybe she did!”Chance shoved me back.

My fist connected with his face before I even thought twice about it. Chance fell back, breaking the plastic chair. Blood gushed from his nose and he cried out in pain.

“You’re a fucking liar! Wren wouldn’t fucking ask you to kiss her.” I was on him again, my fist connecting with his face.I knew Wren, and the fact that he was going to spout lies about her infuriated me.

“Alex, please, stop!” Her voice was the only thing capable of pulling me out of the blind rage I felt.

I paused, heaving a breath. Wren reached for me, but Jon had her around the waist.

I looked back down at Chance, shoving my finger in his face.

“If you come near her again, not even she will be able to stop me.” I said the words with all the malice I could muster. “I will fucking kill you.” I whispered the last words so only he could hear. His eyes were wide and he nodded his head. I dropped him, standing and moving to her. She was in my arms then, and I held her close to me.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered to her.

She was pulling at my shirt, and I could see the tears building in her eyes. “Come on, I just want to go home.” Her voice broke.

I took her by the hand and started to the side of the house.

I kept my feet moving so I didn’t turn around, because I didn’t know what I would do if I got my hands on him. I didn’t realize how hard I was pulling her until she spoke up.?

“Alex, you’re going too fast.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.??

I dropped her hand and turned to her; we’d made it about halfway up the driveway. “Sorry,” I muttered, dragging my handsthrough my hair, pausing. I felt bad for scaring her. That’s when I really looked at her. She has makeup on.??

“What happened to your face?” I didn’t mean for it to sound the way it did. She looked. . .good. The makeup made her eyes pop more than normal, but it seemed to have started to smudge a bit.??

“Juni did it,” she said, a flush creeping up her cheeks.?

“Oh.” I didn’t know what else to say. I looked up the driveway and then back to her. “Come on, we have a long way to go.” It was several miles back home, and I was suddenly wishing I would have asked to borrow Ma’s car.

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