Page 27 of Blade

He looked back at Beck.

“Have dinner with me.”

Sitting up straight, I saw him smirk. Did he really just ask my girl on a fucking date? What the hell was he thinking? Sure, he didn’t know she was my girl, but he also didn’t know she didn’t belong to anyone here. He had to know he was playing a game he couldn’t win.

“I would love to have dinner with you. Maybe one day this week I can come by and meet the girls, and we can get some pizza and catch up?” Beck answered excitedly.

“That would be great.”

I couldn’t take it anymore.

I backed off my stool to head outside. As I passed by him, I shoved my shoulder into his, making him stumble.

Too bad he didn’t go down. Next time I would do it harder.

“Blade, what the heck?”

I didn’t turn to look, as I just kept going when I heard Ryder laugh.

“It’s ok, Beck, everything’s good.”

Everything was not good, fucker.

I stepped out into the lot and had a smoke. I knew I should quit, but screw that. There were two choices: smoke or down a bottle of Jack. This way I could keep my head, and that would keep me from putting Ryder in the ground.

“What the heck was that for?” Becca slammed out the front door, confronting me.

“Go back inside.”

“I will not. Do you treat all your guests like crap? I thought that was just for me.”

“You don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.”

“That was uncalled for. You didn’t need to shove him. He grew up in this town, just like me and Rach. He doesn’t deserve to be treated like that.”

I took a deep drag from my cigarette and let it out slowly. I came out here so I wouldn’t do something stupid, and she followed me to rip me a new asshole. She had never talked to me like this.

I had to remind myself she didn’t know who she was talkin’ to.

“You need to go inside and apologize.”

She was fuckin’ adorable, standing there with her hands on her hips. I smiled around the cigarette hanging between my lips and waited. I knew there was more coming.

“Well?”

“Well, what?”

She couldn’t honestly think I was going to say I was sorry.

“Do you not have any manners at all?”

“Nope.”

She stood there shaking her head when the front door opened and Ryder stepped out, helping Grams down the few steps.

“Grams, are you ok?” Becca rushed over to her grandmother.

“I am fine, dear. I wanted to make it an early night and head home. Ryder offered to walk.”

---