Page 49 of Second Chance Ex
“He’s a fucker,” I mutter, gripping my own glass with both my hands.
“You gonna tell Prue the truth?”
I spear Ryan with an incredulous look, silentlywarning him to keep his voice down; the last thing I need is forDick Bagto catch on.
“She’s withhim.” I tip my head in Adam’s direction. “I don’t know what the fuck she sees in him, but I can’t tell her the truth. If she’s happy then I just need to deal with it and move on.”
Ryan just stares at me, the hint of an annoying smile tugging at his lips, but when his eyes widen just a touch, his gaze flitting to something over my shoulder, I immediately stiffen.
“Another round, fellas?”
I bristle at the feel of Adam’s hand on my shoulder, and I know offering to shout a round of beers isn’t technically dick behavior, but I just can’t with this guy.
“Don’t touch me.” I shrug out of his reach, glaring back at him.
He chuckles, holding his hands up in surrender. “Sorry, bro.”
I knowhateis a strong word, but there’s just something about him; I fuckinghatethis guy.
“I’m not your fuckingbro,” I retort, turning back to Ryan who, of course, is looking at me as if to tell me to chill the fuck out. And I know I should chill out, but I just can’t. Not when it comes to Adam Hopper. He’s fucking my girl, for chrissake.
“What the hell is your problem with me, JT?”
I balk at the sound of Adam’s demanding tone. Okay, so it seems he wants a go, huh? I mutter a curse and push up from the table, turning to look down at him, my chest puffed out more than necessary but if he wants to poke the bear, then game on motherfucker.
“You’re my problem, Hopper.”
“Joey, calm down,” Ryan says from behind me. I ignore him.
“What did I ever do to you to make you hate me so much?” Adam scoffs. “I thought maybe it was Prue, but you’ve been this way since high school. So, let me have it.”
I stare at him, my gaze hard and unwavering. “Okay, well, you’re a cocky asshole. You walk around like God’s fucking gift to mankind.” I count on each of my fingers. “You’re an unapologetic smart ass. You treat women like shit. And… you’re a rapist.”
Adam’s grin falls, his face stark, suddenly void of the permanent veil of humor he wears. His brows dip lower. “What?”
I nod. “I’m sure you think it went away, but I know what you did, Hopper.”
“I’m not arapist,” Adam says between gritted teeth, his voice deathly low, and I have to hand it to him; I’ve never seen him so pissed.
I arch a disbelieving brow.
“You don’t even know what you’re fucking talking about!” he yells, pushing me in my chest.
The rest of the guys jump up out of their seats, surrounding us before things get too heated. But let him at it, I say. It’s almost laughable. I have at least sixty pounds over the guy. I don’t even budge, but I do offer him a warning look.
“Do that again, man. Please. Just give me one good reason to knock your fucking head off. That’s all I ask.” I smirk.
He shakes his head, his cheeks getting redder by the second. “I’ve never hurt a woman in my goddamn life, JT.Never. I might be a fucking asshole at times, but I’mnot a…rapist,” he lowers his voice at that last part. “And that girl you’re referring to, the one who accused me back in college, she came out and publicly confessed that she made the whole thing up because she was pissed that I didn’t want a relationship with her.”
Adam wrestles with the pocket of his snow jacket, yanking out his phone, thumb working overtime as he unlocks the screen and scrolls frantically. Within a few seconds, he holds it up in my face, the screen bright, showing a snapshot of a newspaper article that appears to clear his name.
“I’m not a rapist,” he says again, looking earnest for the first time since I’ve known his ass. “I would never. I mean, I work withchildren, for chrissake.”
“Alright. I’m sorry.” I sigh, holding a hand up in surrender. And honestly, I am sorry because I can’t imagine being accused of something as heinous as sexual assault, and I really do feel for the guy.
But then he has to go and ruin the moment by laughing. Fuckinglaughing. Of all things. I stare at him in confusion as he looks up at me sniggering like a smug bastard.
“Man, it’s really killing you that I got your girl, huh?” he asks between chuckles.
