Page 132 of Forbidden Hearts
I’m tired of Jonathan hurting God only knows how many women and getting away with it.
I walk through campus, not caring about the rain or how it’s already soaking through my clothing. Some kid walks by, and I stop him. “Hey, do you know where Jonathan Loa’s office is?”
“He’s on the other side of campus, look for the arts building.”
I nod and then walk the way he pointed. I have no idea where I’m going, but after about twenty minutes, I find the arts building, and sure enough, the motherfucker’s office is listed as 210.
I take the stairs two at a time, running on caffeine and adrenaline. I have no idea if he’s here or what he’s doing, but I give zero fucks.
His office door is closed, so I knock a few times. After about a minute, it opens, and he’s there, staring at me with wide eyes and shock on his face.
“Asher?”
I don’t think.
I don’t even know if I breathe. I rear my arm back and punch him in the nose.
“What the fuck?” He grips his nose with one hand while holding his other one up as if it could possibly keep me back.
“You piece of shit. You did it again.”
He steps back. “You broke my goddamn nose.”
“I’d like to break your dick off and shove it down your throat, but it’s so small I’d probably never find it.”
“If this is about your sister . . .” My hand clenches, and I raise it again, but he moves back even farther. “I haven’t spoken to her. I did as you asked!”
“And what about Phoebe?” I say, inching closer. “What about the girl who is pregnant now because you are a manipulative piece of shit who preys on young girls?”
“Phoebe? Why the hell do you know or care about her?”
I shake my head. “Don’t pretend you didn’t put two and two together. She lives in Sugarloaf.”
“And that’s why you drove out here to punch me in the face?” He laughs. “I see. You aren’t here because she’s from your town, you’re here because you’re with her. Wow, isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black?”
“You know why we’re nothing alike, Jonathan?” I ask, taking one step closer. “Because when she told me she was pregnant, do you know how I reacted? I held her while she cried.” Another step. “I told her I loved her and promised I’d be at her side. When I found out that you, the biggest piece of shit I know, were the father? All I wanted to do was protect her. And what did you do? You told her to get rid of it.”
“Of course, I told her that!” he yells. “I’m not going to lose my job and my wife over some”—my eyes narrow, and he lifts both hands—“student.”
“Good because you will never,evercome near her or that child. You are going to get papers about giving up all rights, and you won’t hesitate to sign them. If you think my threats about Brynlee were bad, they aren’t even close to what I’ll do to you if you hurt Phoebe.”
When I open the door to walk out, my entire body locks when I see her there, hand up as though she was going to knock. Her hair is dripping wet, her makeup is running down her face, and she’s wearing my work raincoat.
Phoebe’s lips part when she sees me there. “You’re alive.”
“Yes, of course I am.”
“I might still kill you, so don’t be too secure in that statement.” She takes a step back as Jonathan comes up behind me. “I would let him kill you, but I love him and would rather not worry about conjugal visits, so . . . you live for now.”
“What are you doing here? How?” I ask her.
She turns to Jonathan. “You and I will deal with our situation later, however, I’m keeping this child, and I wantnothingfrom you. I’ll have paperwork sent to you so you can walk away without any worries. That way, your poor wife can continue to think she’s married to someone who isn’t a cheating asshole who doesn’t know what to do with his mouth other than lie.” Then Phoebe turns to me. “You. You can take us home now.”
I look at him with a smirk on my face. That’s right, I forgot that little tidbit. “By the way, it’s a you problem, in case you were wondering.”
“What is?”
I pat his chest. “I have no problem making Phoebe scream my name when I’m between her legs. Seems she just needed a man who knew his way around a pussy instead of just being one.”
