Page 83 of So Right
Noah’s gaze flicked toward him, but only briefly before returning to Kelsey. “Can we go somewhere to talk? Just for a few minutes.”
She was quiet for a moment, and Luke was afraid she was considering it. Why would she do that? He wanted to beat the guy into the ground.
“I don’t have anything to say to you,” she finally said, her voice quivering.
Luke’s heart twisted. He clenched his hands into tight fists as anger roiled inside him.
Noah nodded once. “That’s okay. You don’t need to say anything. Just listen.”
Kelsey stood, and Luke’s stomach curled in on itself. Was she going to agree? He wasn’t sure he could let her go off with him alone.
He scooted to the end of the bench, where she’d gotten up, purse in hand. “Kelsey, don’t go with him.”
She spared Luke the smallest glance. “I’m going to the bathroom.” She took a step toward the back.
Noah moved to block her. “Please, Kelsey. Just five minutes. I need to apologize to you. It’s important for my recovery.”
“She doesn’t give a damn about your recovery,” Luke said, fury spiraling through him. “She doesn’t have to.”
Kelsey turned to look at Luke, her eyes like ice. “This isn’t your problem, Luke.” She shot a glare toward Noah. “I don’t actually care about your recovery. You need to go.”
She took another step, and Noah grabbed her forearm. “Please.”
That was all Luke needed to see. He leapt up and planted his fist in Noah’s face, hitting him in the left cheekbone and sending his head snapping back.
Noah let go of Kelsey, and she gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Her gaze turned to Luke, but he was only seeing her from the corner of his eye. He was focused on Noah, who was massaging his cheek. Luke moved toward him. Noah took a step back.
Luke’s lip curled. “Not too fun being on the receiving end, is it?”
“Luke,stop.” Kelsey’s voice broke through his angry haze.
He didn’t look at her, just kept glaring at Noah. “He deserves that and so much more.”
“Luke!”
Finally, he turned his head and saw the anguish and pain in her gaze. “No one deserves that.” She shook her head, her eyes wide. Sliding her purse strap over her shoulder, she cut around them and walked out.
Noah started after her, but Cam, who must’ve gotten up from the booth, stepped between him and the door. Cam glowered at him. “Let her go.”
“I’m calling 9-1-1,” Brooke said. “He’s violating the restraining order. And his parole.”
Panic flooded Noah’s gaze. He dashed around Cam and fled the pub. Luke lurched forward, intending to follow him, but Cam put his hand on his forearm. “Don’t do something you’ll regret. Let’s call the police, and we’ll sort this out. You shouldn’t have hit him.”
Probably not. He shook his hand out, suddenly feeling the pain in his knuckles. He locked eyes with his older brother. “Idon’tregret that.”
Cam nodded slowly. “I get it.”
Luke stared at the door, aware that the entire pub had gone quiet. He reached for his phone in his back pocket but remembered he’d set it on the table when he’d sat down. He snatched it up and texted Kelsey, telling her to be careful because Noah was out there. He also said they were waiting for the police to arrive. Finally, he asked her to call or text him back. Worry and fear arced through him. He wanted to go after her, to make sure she was safe.
Fuck it.He could do that, and the police could talk to Cam and Brooke about what had happened.
Except the police walked in at that moment, and for the next half hour, the only place he went was crazy as he thought of Noah out there—maybe with Kelsey.
