Page 59 of Manny

“Hey!” Manny is also trying to yank me in his direction. “Don’t grab her like that!”

I flick my eyes to him. “Butt out, this has nothing to do with you!” I’m so close to grabbing him by the scruff of the neck and ruining that pretty face.

“It has everything to do with me. She wants me here. I’m not scared of you, Bandit. You won’t hurt her?—”

“I won’t hurt her, but I might hurt you.”

It’s adorable when Lace steps in front of Manny defensively. “I don’t condone fighting. If you even so much as lay a finger on him, I swear to God we’re over.”

I take a step back, trying to calm my nerves. “I’m not gonna do shit.” I run a hand through my hair for the hundredth time. “But he better stay out of my face.”

“Gladly.” Manny runs both hands through his goddamn hair, too. “That was intense. We need to go. Riot and Halo were on their way out and if they see us arguing, it’ll only rouse more suspicion.”

For once he speaks logically, so I reluctantly agree. I glance back at Lace and she seems a million miles away. I fucked up again. I came in raging like a madman, knocking shit out of the way to get what I wanted.Lace.That is not the way to win my girl’s heart and I know it. I also didn’t know until this very moment that I wanted to win my girl’s heart, but I tell myself this is just me being possessive, because I want her for myself. Sharing her, or watching her get fucked, seemed like a good idea at the time, but with Manny? That breeds a whole new level of fear inside me. The idea that she could like him more, that I’d be left out in the cold. I remind myself Lace isn’t like that. She’s sweet, kind and funny, but because I don’t have a handle on my feelings, I push all that logic aside. Seeing red is what I do best. I also know if I swing a punch and hurt Manny, she’ll never speak to me again. I can’t risk that.

I need to put a lid on my emotions, which up until I met her, was relatively easy to do. With Lace, I’m learning new things about myself each and every day and she’s doing it without any effort.

“You have a point,” I mutter, not relishing the idea of Riot catching us all shouting at each other. Questions would be raised and I’m not even sure whatthisis, much less explain to Riot why we’re all yelling at each other in the parking lot.

“Lace?” My voice is quiet. “Do you want to go and talk things through? It might take your mind off Charles for a little bit.” I’m not exactly verbose, but I’ll do it for her.

She hugs herself, and I grunt when Manny puts a protective arm around her before I can. “Okay. I just… I know I should’ve come clean earlier, but I…” Her bottom lip trembles. I feel a lump in my throat.She’s not yours, as much as you tell yourself that.The fact that she’s this upset is very telling. Lace is a tough woman, and I know she’s not turning on the waterworks for attention or sympathy. Her voice lowers. “I was enjoying you both.”

Her words hang, and when my eyes flick to Manny’s, he looks down at his feet, his arm still around her shoulders. “It’s alright,” Manny says, then fixes me with a look. “Isn’t it?”

I want to punch him in the throat, but I refrain. “It’s… something.” That’s all I can manage.

Lace looks behind her. “Let’s get out of here. Let me explain properly before someone does something stupid.”

“We’re not going anywhere until he puts that giant chip on his shoulder back in its box,” Manny says.

The little shit. “You know, you talk some big words there.”

“Well, I’mjust acook,after all, so what would I know?”

Lace looks between us. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” we say at the same time.

She huffs. “Let’s go.”

I follow behind as we cross the lot and head to the diner around the corner. It’s late, so there’s only one other occupant besides the server. We take a seat at the booth and order coffee. I slide in uncomfortably, not liking Lace is on the same side as Manny.Since when did I become such an asshole?

It crosses my mind that it’s possible Lace told Manny about some of the things I told her when I was drunk. Okay, he didn’t know it was me exactly, but there’s a high chance that he knows about the other stuff. The stuff I keep suppressing and not admitting to myself about liking men.

“It’s clear that I was wrong,” I say before Manny can open his big trap again.

Lace frowns. “About what?”

I steel my jaw, unsure if I should just blurt out the truth, but since I’m going to Hell anyway, I may as well take the express train. “When I told you once you had my dick, you’d be beggin’ me for it again.”

Her eyes widen and in my periphery, Manny shifts in his seat uncomfortably. Good. That might make him think before he speaks next time.

“You’re making this into something it isn’t,” Lace fires back. “And you’re like a damn see-saw. One second you’re aloof and don’t want to get tied down, next you’re telling me I belong to you and I’m club property.”

Manny shakes his head. “You said that to her? Man.”

I narrow my gaze. “Nobody asked you.”

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