Page 66 of Once Upon a Fake Date

“Have you seen Audrey?” I repeated, feeling a bit more frantic. It had been what felt like twenty minutes since I’d seen her last, when she’d slipped out of my room saying she needed water and the bathroom. I knew there was no way she would have taken this long. Plus, I’d looked for her all over, and I hadn’t seen her in the house anywhere.

“I think I saw her go out front maybe ten, fifteen minutes ago?” Taylor piped up. “She had a bottle of water and her cheeks were flushed.”

“Why didn’t you say that earlier?” I rolled my eyes, turning to go towards the front door. But when I got to the entryway, there was Audrey. Shaking, with her back pressed to the door.

I narrowed my eyes, coming to stand in front of my girl. She was wearing my jersey, her gorgeous golden locks gathered into a high ponytail with that sparkly pink scrunch she always had on, and even if it was fake, I couldn’t help my instinct to protect her. Not when her eyes were watering and there was a red mark on her cheek.

“Who did this to you?” I gritted out, unable to keep the violence out of my voice.

And Iknew. I knew without asking. Because it was obvious from the way she was trembling.

“Parker—” she whimpered, reaching her hand out to grab mine as if that would help calm me down. But, fuck, I could still see the marks on her wrists from where he’d grabbed her. I saw red.

“It was fucking Duke, wasn’t it? He put his hands on you?”

Audrey nodded, tears spilling from her eyes.

“Fuck, baby,” I said, opening my arms. “Come here.”

She did, collapsing into my hold as I wrapped my arms around her, rubbing soothing circles down her back. “It’s okay. It’s going to be okay.”

“He’s never—” she hiccuped. “He’s never done that before. He’d never hurt me.”

“Where did he go?” My words were sharp.Lethal.I flung open the door, intending on getting payback for her.

Coach was going to fucking kill me if I started a fight, but I didn’t care. Not when this asshole was trying to hurt my girl. Not when it was my job to keep her safe.

My girl. Mine.

“Parker.” Her small hand grabbed mine, interlacing our fingers. “Please,” she whispered. “Don’t go after him.”

I rubbed my thumb over the back of her hand.“He can’t keep doing this to you, Audrey. I just?—”

The steps on the porch creaked, and there was her ex. Pushing her behind me, I tried not to notice the way she was still cupping her cheek.He’d hit her.He hit her, and now he needed to pay.

“Aud, I just wanted to—” Duke started.

I shook my head. “No.”

“No?” He raised an eyebrow, like he was questioning my command.

“No. Don’t talk to her, don’t look at her, don’t even fuckingthinkabout her. You hurt her. But here’s the thing, Duke. She’s not yours. She’smine. And I don’t intend to let her go. Not ever. So if you ever so much as lay a finger on her again, I’m coming for you. And you won’t like it if I do. No matter how much money your daddy has, I can assure you, mine has more. I’m not afraid to fight you.” I’d done my fair share of research into Duke Prescott, who was only one minor infraction from being expelled from CU. This wasn’t the first time he’d harassed a girl, but I would make sure it was his last.

He scoffed. “Like you can touch me.”

“Try me.” I crossed my arms over my chest.

He lunged, but I had the upper hand. Predominantly, because I was sober, and I was sure he’d been out drinking. There was no way he wasn’t on something.

My fist met his jaw, and he went down, collapsing backward into the door frame.

“Parker!” Audrey gasped.

For me. Not for her shitty-ass ex. I didn’t even make sure he landed okay, just closed the door. He was someone else’s problem. Not mine. Right now, my priority was the girl in front of me who was shaking like a leaf.

“Are you okay?” Audrey asked, and I pulled her into my arms.

“Me?” I laughed, smoothing down her hair. “Are you okay?”

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