Page 77 of Time Stops With You

Cullen’s lips pull into a hard, straight line. He gives me one last look before storming off. A confused Jenna darts behind him.

Big T chuckles. “I guess I didn’t have anything to worry about.”

“What?” I spew the word impatiently. That short encounter with Cullen tore me up inside, like I’m cabbage on a grater. It bothers me that I’m bothered.

Big T shakes his head. “Nothing. So about tonight how ‘bout you give your girls a rain check and I take you out instead?”

I grimace.How do I get myself out of this now?“I… can’t tonight.”

“Why not?” His eyes narrow and he looms above me, his face twisted into a sneer. “Are you really meeting your friends tonight? Where are you really going?”

My heart hammers and I back away from him. “I…”

A man blurs past Big T, grabs my hand gently but firmly and pulls me behind him. I stumble on my feet, barely managing to keep all the napkins, utensils and plates in my arms.

The first thing I see when the shock wears off is a broad back and a head covered by a dark green beanie.

“The hell are you doing?” Big T growls, advancing on Cullen.

“Nardi,” Cullen says, not tearing his eyes off Big T for a second, “I know you want to keep the fact that you’re my fiancée a secret, but I can’t stand seeing other men assume you’re single.”

“Fiancée?” Big T’s eyes widen.

Cullen reaches for the tent poles and the container of mashed potatoes. Big T tightens it to his chest in the way that Josiah had done with his phone when I threatened to take it away earlier.

Undeterred, Cullen digs the poles out of Big T’s arms, scoops the container of mashed potatoes in the crook of his elbow and takes my hand again. Is he strong enough to do that? Should I be concerned?

“Let’s go,” he says, his face a picture of quiet, steady determination.

I follow him all the way to the parking lot, too shocked to remove my hand from his or to say a word. It’s not until we get closer to the parking lot that I regain my senses.

Shaking my arm loose, I break out of Cullen’s firm grip and glare at him. “What the heck are you doing?”

“Hate me all you want. I did you a favor.”

“Did you?”

“You didn’t look comfortable back there and, frankly, neither was I.”

I grab the mashed potatoes pan from him, annoyed that he’s holding something so heavy when his health is so poor. “There were other ways of helping me out than calling me your fiancée.”

His face falls. “I apologize. Next time I rescue you from a guytwicemy size,” he holds up two fingers, “I’ll be sure to consult with you on the story.”

“Next time? Who says I’ll let you drag me away like that again?”

“What a strange and aggressive way of saying ‘thank you’?”

“Just so we’re clear, I didn’t ask you to do that. I had it perfectly under control.”

“Oh yeah?” Cullen says sarcastically.

“Yeah!”

“Then I’m sure you’re aware that the man you were rubbing your hand all over has a restraining order taken out on him by his ex girlfriend. I’m equally sure that you read her online post detailing how controlling and manipulative he was during their relationship.”

I step back. “Did you do a background check on Big T?”

“Did you miss the ‘restraining’ or the ‘order’ part?” His voice is quiet but heated.

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