Page 146 of The Hookup Situation
“Take those ridiculous things off. If we’re having this conversation, at least have the courage to show your faces.”
Julie pulls off her pumpkin head, hair static wild, chin raised with defiance. I do the same, moving closer to her. She’s pissed—I can tell.
Craig glares at me. “How long until you get bored, Banks? How long until you move on to the next small-town girl looking for excitement? Everyone knows about your reputation.”
“Finished?” I ask, not affected by him.
I deal with assholes who make him look like child’s play. Asher is one of them.
“You’re making a huge mistake with him,” Craig warns Julie. “This is a game he plays with women. You’re just entertainment. His personal whore.”
“Shut your mouth,” Julie says, glaring at him. She’s livid, and I don’t know if I’ve seen her quite this mad. “I will never give you a chance again. Ever. I’d rather be alone.”
Craig’s mask slips, and I see pure rage underneath. “When he leaves, remember that you chose humiliation.”
There is venom in his tone, but all I can do is laugh because he’s trying too hard.
“The only one who will be humiliated is you,” I tell him. “Look at you. You’re pathetic.”
“Yeah, but I’m not fucking your sloppy seconds, am I?” Craig takes a step toward me, fists clenched, and I’m ready to lay him out flat.
I look down into his eyes, with nostrils flared. “I’ll destroy you. Throw the first punch. I dare you.”
“Craig, stop!” Sarah grabs his arm. “Please. You’ll go to jail.”
He shakes her off, but the mention of being arrested seems to snap him back to reality.
He glances at Sarah, then at Julie, then back at Sarah.
“We’re leaving,” he says. “Now.”
He grabs her arm and pulls her away, but not before throwing one last look at Julie. “This isn’t over.”
“Yes, it is,” Julie says. “I’m filing a restraining order. And this time, I have witnesses.”
Craig’s jaw clenches, but he doesn’t respond. He drags Sarah away, and we watch them disappear into the crowd.
Julie’s shaking, and I pull her against me.
“You okay?”
She takes a deep breath. “At one point in my life, I envied her. Now I feel sorry for her.”
“That’s because you’re over it,” I say. “Congrats. That’s huge.”
Julie looks up at me. “Thank you for having my back.”
“Always.”
Autumn and Zane find us a few minutes later.
“We saw Craig storm off,” Autumn says. “What happened?”
“His ex is pregnant,” Julie says.
“What?!” Autumn’s eyes go wide. “Are you serious?”
“Ten weeks. It’s his.”
