Page 58 of Verses

Like the other day, Kyle moved dangerously close to me, but I refused to show fear. I’d grown up doing that and it hadn’t gotten me anywhere. Somehow, I knew Kyle would respond better if I didn’t back down. When he spoke again, his voice sounded like a growl. “You don’t have tosayit, Hayley. It’s obvious in every word you speak, every look you give. You’re full of contempt—and I think I’ve figured it out. You’re a man hater.”

“What?”

“Yeah, you hate men and you’re taking all your shit out on me.”

“Where the hell did you get that idea?”

“Don’t play stupid. You forgetIknow your past.”

That was true. Well,mostlytrue. There were some things I’d never tell a fucking soul.

But he knew enough…and I just couldn’t take it from him. Not any of it. I’d spent the last several years trying to make a life for myself that I didn’t hate—and I wasn’t going to have this guy that I’d once loved bringing it all crumbling down in a matter of minutes.

“You are such an asshole, Kyle Horton.”

With that, I leapt off the platform and headed straight to the restroom tucked down the hall. As my hand hit the door to push it open, I heard Wolf admonishing my ex. “You need to stop talking to her like that, man.”

It sent a shiver up my spine and I paused, straining to listen.

“Likewhat? She started it.”

“No—not unless I missed something.”

“It wasn’t here. She started this shit back at the apartment.”

I wanted to screamNottoday, asshole!But that would have given away that I was eavesdropping.

“It doesn’t matter. You spew a lot of toxic shit, Kyle—and I’m not gonna pretend to know what you’re going through or try to understand your relationship with Hayley before all this, but I’m trying to say the buck can stop with you. You don’t have to keep poking at her.”

“I do if she fucking has it coming.”

If I hadn’t turned my head slightly, I would have missed Pedro and Adrian walking down the hall. The last thing I wanted was for anyone to know I was hearing what was being said, so I went into the bathroom but held the door handle so it wouldn’t slam shut.

And I’d be able to pull it open a little so the sounds would come through easier than through a solid door.

Unfortunately, I’d missed some of the exchange between Wolf and Kyle, but Ididhear Pedro talking to Adrian as they headed out the back door, probably to have a puff or two of weed. “He’s not wrong—but no way in hell would I have said shit, man.”

When I heard the back door shut, I pulled the handle on the door where I stood to again let more sound in—because I knew if Kyle kept shouting, I’d be able to hear him easily.

He had that kind of voice.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I do,” Wolf replied, his voice calm and steady.

Comforting to me, even though he had no idea.

What amazed me was it was working. Kyle didn’t say a word back. And Wolf continued. “We all know you’re hurting—and we want to help if you’ll take it. Even Hayley. And I know she’s an easy target—but she’s one of the sweetest people you’ll ever know.”

Even all the way back in the bathroom, I could hear Kyle snort. And, of course, his voice got louder again. “She’s got you fooled. She givin’ you blowjobs now or something?”

Thatwas a low blow, even for Kyle. Suddenly, Marv’s voice cut through it all, “Knock that shit off, or you’re both out of here for the night. Maybe the whole damn week.”

Holy shit. Even though I hadn’t seen it happen, I knew Wolf had probably gotten close to Kyle physically, threatening a fight to defend my honor. I probably wouldn’t know until I saw Kyle’s face later—but when I finally returned, there was no evidence of what had occurred.

And no one was talking.

But my heart knew. For the first time in my whole pathetic life…someone had stood up for me.

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