Page 74 of Always Knew It Was You

“Why? What happened?”

“It’s your father. He got attacked last night and beat up by a bunch of thugs. He’s in a bad state.”

“What?”

“I’m not going to repeat myself. Just get here.” She hangs up.

I stare at the phone, my ears ringing unable to believe what I just heard.

“Carly?” I glance over at Emma who called my name, concern shining in her eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Micah asks.

“Someone attacked my dad,” I say softly, still in shock. ‘“I have to go to the hospital.”

“I’ll drive you.”

“No,” I say. He’s the last person I want to be around right now.

“Come on,” Micah cajoles. “It’s faster than taking the bus.”

Shit, that’s right. Emma and I took the bus here because she refused to drive the new car that Declan got her. She says it’s so shiny she’s scared of wrecking it. The only other person I can ask for a ride right now is Declan, but I don’t want to pull him from his work.

I struggle with the thought.

“I can drive you,” Declan offers but I shake my head. It’s nice for him to offer but I don’t want to make a nuisance of myself.

I glare at Micah. “No, it’s fine. He’ll take me.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

MICAH

Carly sits in stony silence beside me as we navigate back down the hill. She hasn’t said a single word since she got into the car, resolutely staring out the window and pretending like I don’t exist.

Not that I blame her. Now that she put my actions into perspective, I’ve been a grade-A ass to her this whole time.

I yelled at her for sticking up for me.

Then had sex with her and coldly flew her out like she was a hooker.

Then I show up without warning and assault a guy who I’m still not convinced is just a friend.

Still, I can’t even believe I did all that. Especially that last part. It was like something else came over me, some green-eyed demon. I rarely cause a scene like that when I’m sober. And I never do so out of jealousy.

I don’t get jealous. Ever.

But when I saw that man holding her, with her smiling up at him and the bastard smiling right back down at her as though he had every right to… I can’t lie. I saw red for several seconds and it blinded me. My mind blanked. Rationality ceased to exist.

All I know is that I wanted to punch his face in so he could never smile at her again.

Which is an unhinged thought to have, admittedly. More than that, it’s scary that I almost acted on it.

Sure, the idiot attacked first, but I took it a little too far, and probably would have kept going and snapped his wrist if not for Carly calling me out on my bullshit.

And she did it in front of all those people too. I nearly chuckle. I didn’t expect that from her either. I might not mind causing a scene, but I know Carly does.

Over the weeks we’ve known each other, I’ve gleaned how private and low-key she usually is and can only imagine how mortified she’s feeling right now.

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