Page 132 of Come Break My Heart Again

“I think they took one look at your stats and decided.”

Archer glares at me, the hatred rolling off of him in palpable waves. “You’re a fucking game to her, you know. This is what Elledoes. She gets bored. She teases. She’s just using you to make me jealous.”

I take a few steps closer until I’m right up in his face. “Don’t you dare say her name, you piece of shit.”

“Hit a sore spot, huh? Did she already dump you?”

“She told me what happened last night.”

There’s a flicker on Archer’s face. Just a flash of guilt, but enough to tell me he knows exactly what I’m talking about. He might be wasted, but not drunk enough to forget.

“And the only reason your face isn’t a bloody, bruised mess right now is because she asked me not to hurt you. The girl you fuckingassaultedlast night saved your ass. Does that make you feel like a man, Hathaway?”

“You’re wasting your time dating her,” he spits. “Elle won’t put out.”

I swing without consciously deciding to, the crunch of my knuckles connecting with his cheekbone one of the most satisfying sounds I’ve ever heard. Hathaway doubles over like I socked him in the stomach instead of punching him in the face.

“I told you not to say her name.”

When Archer manages to straighten, blood is already dripping down his cheek from a split that will probably scar. He’ll likely have a black eye too.

My stomach twists.Fuck. I don’t regret punching Hathaway, but it was definitely a dumb thing to do.

“Get the fuck off my property,” he snarls. “I’m five seconds from calling the cops.”

Hathaway is no longer the only guy glaring at me. Zane, Cruz, and Phoenix all look pissed. Theyarehere to sell. If Archer calls the cops to his own house—a stupid thing to do, considering it’s filled with drunk teenagers, but he’s obviously not in a logical mood—they won’t be able to. Not to mention, Cormac could get in trouble for being here.

Cruz steps forward. “Look, man, I don’t have any beef with you. Your guests are expecting us. We’ll be in and out in twenty minutes.”

Blood is dripping off Archer’s jaw, landing on his shirt. It’s a grisly sight. He looks at me, then glances at Cruz. Drains the contents of the cup he’s holding. “Just you.”

“I can sell more if?—”

“You can never sell at one of my parties again, asshole. I can make sure you never sell atanyparty in this town again.”

Phoenix looks nervously at his brother.

“Fine.” Cruz tosses the keys to Zane. “Wait in the car.”

Archer scoffs, casts one last murderous glower my way, then heads inside. His friends follow.

“Cruz—” I start.

“You donotwant to talk to me right now, James. You have no fucking clue the mess you just made.”

“He’s a senior,” I remind him. “He’ll be off at some fancy university next year.”

“He has connections. If he wants to make it hard for me, he can. He will.”

I swallow. “I’m sorry.”

“And over some One?” Cruz shakes his head. “He’s right; she’ll dump you soon.”

I’m in no position to argue, so I don’t. “Cormac is in there. He’sthirteen, man. Too young for all this.”

Cruz is silent for a few seconds. “I’ll grab him, okay?”

Relief spreads through me. “Thank you.”

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