Page 41 of Forever Player

I walk over to Willow and the guy. “Excuse me, but I need to cut in here.”

“I don’t think so,” the guy says.

Buddy doesn’t know who he is dealing with, clearly. I fight on the ice for a living.

“Willow, you’re coming with me,” I tell her.

“No, I’m not,” she answers me, her voice cold and her chin pointed upward.

“You need to leave,” the guy says, putting his hands on me.

“Get your hands off me and my woman,” I growl.

“Brett,” Willow gasps.

“Willow, we are leaving,” I say to her. She bites into her lip. “You really want to stay here with this guy? Or are you going to leave with me?”

“Brett, don’t do this,” she pleads.

“Are you leaving with me now, dammit?” I ask, my blood burning through my veins.

She nods.

The guy looks shocked.

I take Willow and flip her over my shoulder because, damn, I’ve been fantasizing about doing this all night.

Around us people are whispering and grunting.

“Brett, put me down,” she protests.

“Not until I get you to the cab of the truck,” I state.

“We need our jackets,” she reminds. I walk us back to the booth, grab our jackets, and drop a hundred-dollar bill on the table.

Then I head outside.

“I didn’t know you were this crazy,” she says. “Put me down.”

“I didn’t know I was this crazy either,” I snap back.

“Huh?”

“You heard me. Since I met you, my head has been spinning.”

We reach the truck and I place her on her feet. She is angry and huffing. “You’re a big bully.”

I burst into laughter. “Is that the best you got?”

“Asshole,” she mutters, straightening out her dress.

I open the door. “Get inside, it’s cold.” I hold the door open for her then jog around the truck to the driver’s side. I get in, turn on the truck, and crank up the heat.

“Tell me you wanted that guy,” I say to her.

“You should’ve left with Bonnie. You’re with the wrong girl,” she states, and I read her insecurities.

A harsh chuckle escapes me. “I definitely left with the right woman. I’m not interested in Bonnie.”

---