Page 60 of All Yours

Sebastian grinned, picking my hand up from the table, and jerked me toward him as he planted a kiss on my knuckles.

I tried to drag my hand away. “Stop that,” I hissed. And finally yanked my hand out from under his. “What on earth do you think you’re doing?”

“I’ve been trying to ask you to be in my documentary.”

“What?” I was a broken record of confusion and disbelief. Why would he ask me such a thing?

“You were such a big part of my life. I thought maybe you’d like to talk about me.”

“I didn’t even want to be part of your book…”

“She doesn’t want you here, and she doesn't want to do your documentary,” Jonah barked. “Now get out.”

“She would make money off this,” Sebastian said.

“Who cares? She doesn’t need your help in that department. And she doesn’t want to be back in the public eye.”

“She is anyway.”

“No thanks to you.”

“It was bound to happen one day, anyway. I’m sure everyone already knew.”

“That’s not the point. You didn’t give her a choice in the matter.”

“I’m allowed to tell my story, and I will not keep defending myself on that part. Julia understands the game.”

A game? This wasn’t a game. It’s my life, my safety, my sanity. Thoughts swirled through my head.

“The last-ditch efforts of a washed-up tennis player to remain relevant.”

“Says the man who couldn’t be anything but a small-town carpenter.”

“Get up,” Jonah demanded.

“Did I strike a nerve? Come on, sit down and let’s discuss this like civilized people. There’s no need for jealousy, just ‘cause I planted my flag pole there first. This arrangement will be lucrative for all of us.”

Oh no. This was going off the rails.

The words were barely out of Sebastian’s mouth when Jonah snatched him sideways, dragging him from the booth seat. Sebastian stumbled but righted himself. He was a good three inches taller than Jonah and a professional athlete. But Jonah was in great shape and had the element of surprise, fury, and apparent jealousy on his side. The pair stumbled across the floor in a weird grappling style wrestling match.

“Stop it,” I yelled, climbing from the booth seat. A hand grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back.

“Don’t get in the middle of that,” Eden said.

“Someone has to stop it.”

Adrian appeared behind Eden.

“You don’t allow bar fights,” I cried.

“I’ll let Jonah get in a couple of good punches first.”

“What if he gets hurt?” I asked as the pair collided with a table and sent it careening to the floor with a bang. The party of eight fled their table and stood across the room, staring.

“That’s enough,” Adrian yelled and started across the floor towards them. But Sebastian lunged at Jonah, knocking him backwards. He grabbed Sebastian by the collar as he tripped over the remaining chair at the table and in slow-motion both men tumbled over the railing out the open bay door, splashing into Hart Lake below.

“Jonah,” I screamed, my heart lodging in my throat.

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