Page 60 of The Sweetest Surrender

Selena went crazy slapping her father again just as he came out of his seat to return her strike.

“Don’t do it, Walter,” Amelia said.

But he held a hand back to attack Selena when Jordan entered the ring, gallantly shoving in return with the force of a charging bull. Mr. Strauss stumbled, tripping over his feet, and Jordan stepped closer to the man. Jordan reached out and grabbed Mr. Strauss’s collar, fisting it as he gave a one-time warning.

“Listen to your date,” he barked.

With a shove, Jordan tossed Mr. Strauss back into the table and glowered at him in a dare. He waited a beat then turned to Selena, his glower turning into a sympathetic stare. Selena still shook with rage, and once again her thoughts jumbled.

“Is this what you’ve done?” she asked. “Did you hit my mother when she angered you?”

Both Jordan and Selena glared at Mr. Strauss, and he huffed and pulled his suit jacket together.

“Young lady, I don’t owe you an explanation for—”

“Bullshit!” Selena screamed. “You owe me an explanation for everything that’s happening right now. I can’t even believe this. You are not the father I once knew! You… You... Ugh!”

Selena turned on her heels and ran out of the diner. Seconds behind her, Jordan flew to her side and drew Selena in just as she stumbled out into the midst of the chilly night air.

She fell to the ground.

Selena’s world was collapsing all around her. The life and love she’d known had been given by her parents were her blueprint. And now, they just weren’t. Selena cried heavily as Jordan held her tight. His heart crushed to see Selena in such a grim state of distress. Selena’s head pounded, and she pushed away from Jordan, but he held on to her.

“No,” he said. “Don’t pull away from me. I won’t let you.”

His words softened Selena’s heart, making her cry even harder. Jordan hadn’t done a thing to her. He didn’t deserve to be pushed away, but the unfaithfulness of Selena’s father made her begrudge Jordan, and she shoved him hard again.

“Hit me if you must. Use me as your punching bag if it helps, but please, Selena, don’t push me away… please.”

And she did. Her hands connected with his chest, heaving a surge of pounds and pushes into what felt like a brick wall. Tears streamed faster down her face, and Selena screamed a long wail of an outcry.

“Why is he doing this!?” She sobbed as her fist hits slowed, and she fell into pieces. “Oh my God, my mother!” she wailed. Selena’s head fell against Jordan, and he took a sweeping hand down her back.

Abruptly, Selena blinked back her tears and straightened in his arms.

“I’ve got to get out of here,” she said.

“Wherever it is, I’m taking you.”

“No, no!” she shouted, lost in a hail of thoughts.

“Selena…”

“No, Jordan, okay just…” She turned and staggered then walked away.

“I’m not letting you leave like this.”

“You don’t have a choice!”

Selena jumped into an awaiting taxi that had been sitting for a customer to exit the restaurant.

“Selena!” Jordan shouted, stepping to the back door.

Selena shouted at the driver, and he sped away from the curb, leaving Jordan brimming with intangible frustration.

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