Page 43 of Crave

I watched in horror as more attention was pulled to us and people began to gather to watch, like we were on some type of reality show. Gabby held up her phone. Holy shit, was she videoing this?

Max shook his head in mockery. “At least you kept it easy for me, man. A clean break. Showed your true colors and there’s no more regrets. I’m just gonna ask for one thing. Do this one thing and we can all walk away.”

The pause was terrible, a silence filled with gossipy comments around us, and music streaming from the speakers and the clatter of glassware as tables were cleared and drinks poured. Adam kept me shielded, as if he was afraid Max would hurt me, and I could tell it made Max even more furious.

“What’s that?” Adam asked, his voice giving no hint of the screaming tension swirling around them.

Max’s voice was soft and deadly. “Get your fucking hands off her. Now.”

“Guys, please stop!” Daisy wailed. “Let’s not do this here!”

Automatically, I tried to step away from Adam to calm things down, but I couldn’t move because Adam kept his grip firm and assuring, not allowing me any space. I didn’t know if it was a fuck you to Max or to reassure me he wouldn’t let anything happen; that we were finally a team. Either way, no good could come of it.

“I can’t.” His tone held a flick of regret. “Because now she’s mine.”

Coop cleared his throat. “Max, come with me.”

Max gave a terrible smile. “Wrong answer, asshole.”

His arm snapped back and he punched Adam in the face.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Adam

Listen to Regret Me

by Daisy Jones & the Six

I’m not sure who started screaming. All I know is I expected Max’s move way before he did it. I’d watched his actions during bar fights and he always liked the quick surprise punch to the face to disarm and surprise his opponent. He also liked to smile before he did it, which tipped me off. I could’ve easily countered, or side stepped to save myself the pain, but I didn’t.

I gave him the punch. He deserved a freebie. I’d betrayed him and had no issues with a black eye or bent nose. Hell, after my father beat me for all those years, Max’s hit was laughable. I only felt bad for Landon for having to see it happen, and I hoped to God the scream wasn’t from her because the noise rattled my ears and closed in on me as I staggered back and blinked my vision to clear it.

Good, it wasn’t her. Daisy had issued the loud noise, and now all the girls began yelling and Landon jumped in front of Max to protect me, but thank God Coop was there to get her safely out of the line of fire. I’d seen too many fights spill over to innocent witnesses and I’d kill Max myself if Landon or the girls ever got hurt.

Max tried to go after me again but Coop dragged him back. Elle burst into action and took a crying Daisy in her arms, because Landon had turned into a furious Goddess ready to wreak revenge. She went after Max, pushing him hard, then descended over me like a protective angel. Did she really think I’d care about a simple punch from Max?

Hell, it was worth it to have her fuss over me. A sharp wave of emotion crashed through me as she cupped my cheek with care, her blue eyes worried as she took in my injury. I’d never had anyone care before—not like this. It was becoming addicting.

“Adam, are you okay?”

I smiled at her sweetness. “Princess, that was like a gnat biting me. He deserved at least one.”

She relaxed, then nibbled at her lower lip. “This wasn’t the way it should’ve gone, huh? I hoped we could have controlled the narrative.”

“If there’s one lesson I learned, it’s none of us know what’s going to happen next. Best to go along for the ride.”

Our gazes met and locked. For a few precious seconds, we were calm in the midst of a shitstorm exploding around us.

Then I was thrust back into reality.

Security guards surrounded us to escort everyone out of the club. Crowds pushed in, trying to get a peek at the action. Daisy wept, while Gabby and Elle tried to comfort her, each grabbing one arm. Coop and Noah kept a tight rein on Max, as he shouted and tried to twist around, waving his fists in the air and giving a good show. Landon kept her hand tight in mine, and we wereshoved outside as a group, dumped onto the street as the humid night air closed in.

Noah tried reasoning with the guard, telling him he was the DJ, and disappeared back inside. I hoped he didn’t get cut because I knew stories traded fast around here, and he didn’t need a mark on his record for courting drama.

What a clusterfuck.

Instead of trying to calm everyone down, I shut my mouth to play defense rather than offense. The group obviously needed to lose their shit publicly first. I shouldn’t be surprised—they loved drama and this fed their appetites like a five-star meal. My only worry was Landon. She looked sick as she gazed at her girlfriends, all huddled together and obviously icing her out.

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