Page 60 of Faking Summer
"No," I shot back. "Because I'm not afraid to fight anyone who has something to say about it."
Wells Clark was missing brain cells, so I understood he may not get it. I shouldn’t have to defend her for wearing whatever the fuck she wanted to wear, but the reality of the situation is that I do. From idiots like him.
I dropped at the last second, his fist flying through the air so close I felt the rush of wind graze my skin.
"She’s just a dumb girl," he sneered. "You really wanna riskthrowing away your precious baseball career over some whore you’ll be over next week?"
My pulse pounded, adrenaline roaring in my veins. He had no idea—I was past the point of having a choice, and baseball was the last thing on my mind. When it came to her, I’d take on anyone. No hesitation. No second thoughts.
"You of all people…" I drawled, the back alley's dim light flickering above us, "should never call anyone else dumb… and I've been waiting for any chance to do this again?—"
Before he could react, my fist connected with his jaw, a satisfying crunch that felt just as good as I thought it would. A guttural groan escaped him as he hunched over. That blow was for Caroline, for this piece of shit thinking he could just take what he wanted. His head snapped sideways, shock flaring in his eyes.
Clark's head tilted back, a scornful laugh escaping him. "Alright, Reese… I'll give you that one. But that's the only one you're getting."
Just as the words left his mouth, his fist came at me again. This time, it slammed into my ribs with a force that knocked the breath from my lungs. Pain flared, but adrenaline quickly took over.
“And after hearing what you said to her, it’s going to be so much more satisfying when I beat your ass again… with the same hand that made her come last night.”
A flicker of rage ignited behind his eyes, the veins in his neck popping out. He launched at me. We collided and went down hard, tangled together on impact. His fist found my cheek, a sting of pain radiating from the hit. I shoved him off as I wrestled my way back on top.
"Get off me!" he spat, voice frantic, high-pitched with rising panic.
And then, my fist connected with his nose, once, then twice. His howl tore through the night, like a wounded animal's cry. Blood splattered against my knuckles.
“That last one was for your little sister being a fuck, too.”
"Fuck you," he gasped, the words barely a hiss as they slipped through his gritted teeth.
The world seemed to shrink down to just the dark back patio and the pathetic form of Wells Clark whimpering. I leaned in, a grin on my lips. "You made this way too easy, Clark," I murmured. “I expected you to fight back harder. It’s just not as fun when you don’t.”
He didn't move, just laid there, groaning as I stood and dusted off my clothes. "And if I ever catch you near her or in that bar again," I said, leaning down so I knew he could hear my words, "you will not walk back out alive. Do you understand me?"
I reached down, my fingers tapping on Wells' jaw with an almost tender touch. "Gonna need you to repeat that back to me," I murmured, my voice low and even, "so I know you understand me."
For a second, there was nothing but the sound of our breathing. Then, the words slithered out of Wells. "Don’t... come back..."
"Good boy," I said, feeling a dark satisfaction as I straightened to my full height again.
The back door burst open as Bailey's voice interrupted us, "Bro, the quarterback's teammates are getting suspicious."
"We’re all done here," I sighed.
Bailey and the Crew nodded and then stepped outside, their laughter rising over Wells' pitiful groans.
Bailey snickered as he rubbed his chin. “This is even better the second time.”
The back door flew open again and Wells' friends emerged, one by one. "Clark, there you are!" one called out. "Why are you lying on the ground?"
I watched their expressions shift from confusion to realization as they pieced together what had gone down.
"Are we going to have to fight tonight, too?" Crew asked, letting out a long sigh. "Do I need to finish my beer?"
"You should probably get him out of here," I said to Wells' friends. "He's not welcome back."
"This... this is the only bar in town," one of them said back.
"Find another town," I said with a shrug.
