Page 212 of Something Rad
Robbie takes a step into Paul’s personal space, not breaking his eye contact. “I didn’t ask you. I asked her.” He points in my direction, but doesn’t look at me.
“Well, last I checked, she’s not your concern anymore either,” Paul says, chuckling darkly. Robbie’s jaw flexes, but he doesn’t back down. “You got your chance, and you blew it. So now, it’s my turn.”
“Yourturn?” I question him, a humorless laugh bursting out of me. “I’m not a toy, Paul.”
He turns back on me then. “Of course not. I’m sure you’re way more fun to play with.” He grabs my wrist, trying to tug me towards him, but I resist, leaning as far away from him as possible.
“I already told you, I’m not interested,” I grit.
“Take your hands off of her right now,” Robbie says, his voice low. When I look over at him, he’s bunching the back of Paul’s shirt up in his hand, pulling him backward.
Paul releases my wrist, and my arm falls back to my side with a thud.
“Smart choice,” Robbie rasps, releasing Paul. “Now, come on, Cooper.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” I shake my head.
Robbie blows out an irritated breath. “Can you please, for once, justnotbe difficult?”
“Can you maybe look at me when you’re speaking to me?” I shoot back at him.
Robbie stiffens, his eyes slowly raising to meet mine.
“Was that so hard?” I breathe.
His tongue pushes into his lower lip as his eyes dart between mine. “Yeah, it was.”
I let out an incredulous chuckle.
“Now, will you come with me?” Robbie asks.
“No,” I state, crossing my arms and spinning to walk the opposite direction, hoping to find Alice and leave, but instead, I run right into the wall of Paul’s chest.
“Well, welcome back,” Paul drawls, looping an arm around my back and caging me to him.
“Let go of me,” I mutter, trying to wriggle out of his arms. I’m not fighting him for a full two seconds before I feel Robbie right behind me, wrapping an arm around my waist and shoving against Paul.
“You heard her, Paul.Back the fuck off.”
“Get off of me,” I snap at Robbie over my shoulder.
“I’m trying to help you, Cooper,” he scoffs.
“Yeah, well, I don’t need your help.”
My feet get twisted up as the three of us sway from side to side, and my wine cooler drops from my hands, smashing onto concrete.
“Shit,” I grit.
“Sara?” I hear the panicked voice of Alice from afar, and look up to see her running towards us.
“Let me go!” I practically shout at the same time Robbie says, “Let her fucking go, Strothers!”
I feel a deep laugh rattle Paul’s chest right before he says, “Okay.”
Then, all at once, he lets go of me.
The sudden release sends me stumbling backwards into Robbie, who lets out a grunting sound before he goes stumbling as well.
