Page 295 of Falling Backwards
It’s hard not to go to her and touch her, make sure she’s okay, wrap her in my arms.But there’s no way I want her close to me if Jayden is foolish enough to come at me again.
He grits out, “You did not just….I’m gonna kick your ass!”
I eye him and see he seems serious—or thinks he’s serious.
The truth is I would lay this motherfucker out.
With a slight, warning turn of my head, I tell him, “You cantryto kick my ass, but I wouldn’t bother if I were you.You can’t imagine how much you’ve pissed me off.This is a fight you wouldn’t win.”
He glares as he sizes me up.
Doesn’t move otherwise, though.
Not even after many moments.
He doesn’t so much as look like he’s planning to.
“I’ll file a charge against you, then,” he finally threatens.“You can’t assault me and expect not to—”
“You can try,” I repeat over him, “but you started it by shoving meanda woman—probably bruising her, by the way—so which one of us is really gonna end up in trouble here?”With an unwavering stare, I add, “And that’s not counting the trouble you’d be in if I let certain other authorities know about your cheating habits.I don’t think they’d take kindly to that.”
Jayden somehow seethes and looks unsure at the same time.“You wouldn’t.”
“Oh, how fast I would.”
“You’re just saying that ’cause you’re jealous I went out and did something with my life.”
I cut my eyes along him.“In fact, I couldn’t belessjealous of you, and it has nothing to do with you manipulating your way into a medical career instead of earning it.”
The cold air is still and thick as he sizes me up again.Momentarily, he turns his glower to Maggie.When it comes back to me, he points at me.
“If you’re really gonna be like this over some fucking girl and pick her instead of me after all the time we’ve known each other, then our friendship is over.”
I raise an eyebrow.“Yeah, I’m gonna be like this over her—and overyou,asshole.And since I guess you missed it when I said it earlier: our friendship is already over.There’s no‘if’about it.”
Inhaling deeply and slowly, he shakes his head.
Then, flipping me and Maggie each a middle finger, he takes a few steps back before turning and stomping back to his car.
I finally hasten to her and we watch him drive away.I’m not sure if he’d been planning to go into the bar himself; if so, I’m glad he changed his mind.She and I won’t be here for long—we’ll get in plenty of time tomorrow for New Year’s Eve—but being near him for even another minute would’ve been difficult.
He’s out of sight, so we finish our walk to the door, then get into the warmth of the building.There are a couple of people milling about right here, so I guide her to the old payphone alcove we stood in way back when Kyle first started bothering her.
In the empty space, I finally take gentle hold of her.“Are you okay?”I ask intently.“How badly do you hurt?”
She nods.I feel her hands rubbing over my waist through my coat.“I’m okay.My shoulder just feels tender.You were right that I might have a bruise.”
I clench my jaw.“That fucking….”
“Areyouokay?”Her eyes inspect me the best they can from up so close and with clothes in the way.“When he pushed you—”
I assure her, “I’m fine.I barely felt it.”After a beat, I lift the hand I’m belatedly realizing is aching.“Felt that punch to his face, though.”
Maggie sighs and carefully takes hold of my hand.She looks over my knuckles; they’re a little red right now.“You might be bruised later too.”
“Might be, yeah.”
We shift and draw each other into a hug.I try not to squeeze her too hard so I don’t agitate her shoulder.
