Page 88 of Saving Tatum (Trace + Olivia 4)

No one else was going to do anything. Trent was my only hope.

He pushed to the front of the crowd gathered watching the two men fight. He reached down and got ahold of Jude’s shoulder. Before he could yank him away Jude got another good punch in. Trent wrapped his arms around Jude, pulling him away from the writhing form on the ground. Jude was like a wild animal, clawing at Trent in an effort to get away.

“Calm down, man.” I heard Trent tell Jude.

Jude breathed heavily, nostrils flaring. I’d never seen Jude lose his cool, ever, and he’d completely lost it now and over me of all things.

Tyler clutched his nose, rolling around. “Vuck! Vou vroke vy vose,” Tyler said in a garbled voice.

“You’re lucky I didn’t break everything!” Jude yelled, pointing at Tyler. “Get the fuck out of my house and if you ever set foot in here again, so help me God I will rip you to shreds!”

Someone, one of Tyler’s friends I assumed, came out of the crowd and picked him up, dragging him away.

When Trenton was sure Jude wasn’t about to go after Tyler he released his hold on him.

Jude still breathed heavily and a bruise was forming on his cheek. Once everyone saw that the show was over the party returned to normal.

“Tate?” Jude turned to me and his eyes were full of worry. He was afraid I was mad, and I was to an extent.

“Thank you,” I told Trent before grabbing Jude’s hand. Jude said nothing as I dragged him upstairs and to his room. Just like last time he unlocked the door, and then made sure to lock it behind us so no one could get in.

This time I felt giddy at the prospect of being alone in Jude’s room.

I turned on a light and frowned at the bruise forming beneath his eye.

I went into the bathroom and he followed behind me, not saying a word.

I grabbed a washcloth and wet it with cold water since I didn’t have access to an icepack.

Jude sat down on the closed toilet lid and I gently pressed the cold cloth to his eye.

“Are you mad?” He finally asked.

I twisted my lips, shrugging. “A little.”

“A little is better than a lot.” He reached up, putting his hand overtop the one I used to hold the cloth.

“I had it under control,” I whispered, eyes lowering.

For some reason my heart rate picked up at our closeness and the thought of the bed only a few feet away. My body craved his touch. It was like I was starved for him.

“I know you did,” Jude agreed, “but then when he said that stuff about you I…I lost it. Obviously.” His shoulders sagged.

“I don’t need you to defend me,” I breathed. I ran the fingers of my free hand lightly over the side of his face that was uninjured. His eyes closed and a content sigh escaped his lips.

“I know,” he agreed once more. He grew quiet and his eyes were angry and dark when he looked at me. “Was what he said true? Did you sleep with him?”

I flinched and that was all the answer he needed, but I still replied. “Yes.”

He let out a growl. “I hate him.”

“Me too.”

“He’s a jerk, Tate. Why would you be with someone like him?” He asked, his eyes pleading with me to explain.

I sighed, shaking my head. “I was young and stupid. I wanted to feel cared for. I just picked the wrong guy.”

“What happened with you guys?”

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