Page 58 of Manny

The faster we walk, the more mad I get, and while I know I have no right to — I haven’t claimed her, nor do I plan on doing that — it shouldn’t feel like a betrayal. Lace has been nothing but upfront and honest with me, but I didn’t agree to this. I agreed to thinking about sharing her, and if that happened, I’d be there, watching or fucking her, too. No… not,this.

As soon as we’re outside and around the corner, I point my finger at Manny. “How long has this been going on?”

Manny’s eyes go wide. “Wait? Are you… oh, man.” He turns to Lace. “He’sthe other guy?”

She looks panicked. “I was about to tell you,” she starts, staring at Manny. “Tonight when Riot rang.” She swings her head my way. “I was going to tell you…”

“Lace,” Manny mutters.

“When?” I shake my head, my voice lowers to an angry whisper. “He’sthe guy we talked about? Are you fuckin’ kiddin’ me right now?”

“You know, you don’t have to talk about me like I’m not here, bozo.” Manny folds his arms across his chest. “And for the record, she’s been through a horrible ordeal tonight, so don’t point at her or you’ll have me to deal with.”

I stare at him. He’s got some balls on him, I’ll give him that. He may be my height, but he hasn’t got the muscle I do. I could take him without blinking, but seeing he’s standing up for her makes me wanna back off just a little. Anyone who stands up for Lace has an ounce of my respect in my book, even if I still wanna throat punch the guy for touching her. Lace also doesn’t like shouting or fighting. She told me as much, and I hate upsetting her. I’ve seen her upset a few times now, and it doesn’t sit well with me. I don’t want to be the one putting a frown on her face.

My eyebrows raise. “Ooh, I’m shaking.” I wave my hands at him like a child. He frowns in response, but I’m too far in. I turn my gaze to Lace. She looks so small with me looming over her and Manny by her side. “Did you fuck him?”

Her eyes go round and her cheeks flush. “No!”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Manny shoves me in the chest. I look down to where he touched me, ignoring the burn from his touch, and shove him back. He’s got some attitude.

I’ll fuck him up if I have to.No, you won’t. It’ll hurt Lace if he’s hurt.

“Keep your hands to yourself,” I warn. “Don’t wanna mess up that pretty boy face now, do we? How else will you swindle your way into your roommate’s bed?”

“No,” he says, angrily. “I didn’t swindle anything, asshole, and I won’t let you speak to her like that. Now you either calm the fuck down, or we’re leaving, right, Lace?”

Lace nods, she looks ashen. No doubt because she’s been caught in her little web of deceit. I don’t know what the hell she was thinking. I’m not doing shit with Manny, no matter how much she tries to make it sound like no big deal.Me and him sharing her?I ignore the racing of my heart at that thought, as well as the more illicit one of the two of us naked together, Lace between us. My dick agrees with me, but I ignore that fucker.

I try to calm myself, unsure why I’m so angry when I knew the deal. I knew we weren’t exclusive, and here I am after one fuck, like a bull in a china shop. No wonder she looks like she wants to run away.

“You’re gonna go with him? So you movin’ in with Manny was all a ruse so you could shack up together? What was it, easy access?”

“That’s not how it happened,” she whispers. “I swear to God! I was with you first, then me and Manny only just made out tonight. We didn’t have sex, we just had some fun, and I liked it. I like both of you.”

The words hang in the air, and I know I should walk away.

If I’m not mistaken, a little smirk hints at Manny’s lips and I want to knock it off his face. Clearly, he’s not put off by how awkward this situation is.

“So, what was I?” I counter. “An easy lay?”

She snorts. “Like you care about that? Puh-lease. You bikers go through women like you go through underwear!”

“Not all of us,” I gripe.

“I think what he’s trying to convey is that he cares about you, right?” Manny speculates with his eyes widening. “Otherwise he wouldn’t be this upset.”

“I’m not upset! I’m just tryin’ to make sense of what I saw tonight when I thought it was me and Lace.”

“Let’s just all take a beat.” Manny tries to control the situation, but it’s quickly spiraling. “Lace is upset, and the parking lot of a hospital isn’t the place to have deep and meaningful conversation. I think we need to go sit down and talk like adults.”

“I don’t know who you are coming in here, going off.” Lace ignores Manny, her voice gains an octave or two.Here comes my girl.“But you don’t own me,Bandit.No matter what you or the dumb club rules state.Ichoose whoIwant to be with andwhen, not you. I don’t even have to explain this to you. Frankly, I’ve been honest from the start, and you come barging in here like you have some ownership over me. I don’t like being barked at.”

Panic rises as she tries to push past me. I feel like a dick, but it’s only because I care about her deeply, and it seems my jealousy knows no bounds. I grip her wrist, spinning her around. “I’m sorry.” My mouth is at her ear. “It’s not like that. I… I do care about you.”

She tries to shrug away. “Don’tJonah.I’m tired. I’m emotional, and frankly, I don’t need your shit tonight.”

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