Page 50 of Honest With You

“What did you just call me?” His voice is a near whisper. Tension lines every inch of his face and sets his shoulders in a severe line, like he’s amped for a fight.

He reaches out, pinching my jaw so tight between his fingers that I wince in pain. I don’t think, I just react. I shove his hand off my face and slap him.

He growls and before I can blink, one of his hands wraps around my throat. I struggle to breathe. My hands grab hold of his arm. I squirm, gasping for air as I try to take his hand off where he’s cutting my circulation.

His other hand comes to grab me in the arm, tightly enough to leave bruises.

“Now now, Ava. Don’t go hitting other people. Some of us–” His eyes dip and he leans back, trailing his eyes up my body until they stop on my chest. “--hit back.”

My white button down is now gaping open.

“But then again, maybe that’s your kink, huh?” His hand trails to my chest until he’s fully cupping my left breast.

Out of sheer desperation, I aim my knee to his groin. Just as someone roars behind me, I make contact with Dean’s crotch.

Dean releases me with a yelp, cupping himself and gritting his teeth. His head snaps back to me as he lunges for me but before he can touch me, someone shoves him back.

I fall to the floor, tears streaming down my face as I inhale gulps of air.

An arm wraps around me and suddenly Jesse’s there, his hand cupping my cheek. His face is tight with anger and concern as he helps me up.

“Ava, baby. Talk to me.”

“Va-Vanessa?”

“She’s with Matt.”

Jesse’s eyes dance around my face as his fingers trail my jaw and throat. Then he starts shaking with rage and he turns poised to jump into the fray behind him. I catch his hand just as he turns, keeping him with me. Together, we look at where Ryder has Dean slammed against the wall, his fist poised to punch him.

“Wait!” I let Jesse go and as calmly as I can, I walk over to Dean and swing.

My punch lands on his nose, and is followed by the satisfying sound of a bone crunch.

“You bitch!”

“Call my girlfriend a bitch again, I fucking dare you!” Jesse bites out.

Dean sneers. “Your girlfriend is a nosy whore, is what she is, Matthews. Those tits felt good on my hand.” Then he turns to Ryder, shoving him off as he touches his nose and winces. “I can see why you liked her now, Ryder. Those juicy–”

Jesse growls in anger and Ryder spits out a curse as they both lunge for Dean again, each catching hold of his shoulders. Together, they shove him against the wall so hard the mirror on the wall shatters onto the floor.

A few people have run into the room now, along with Nate, a friend of Dean’s.

“What the fuck is going on here?” He bellows, running in to push the guys aside so his friend can break free.

My chest heaves as I try to slow my breath. I’m fucking pissed.

I want nothing more than to kick Dean’s ass for daring to hurt Ava but not when the cops could show up. I’m tempted though.

Seeing Ava’s upper body red and swollen has my blood boiling to the point I almost contemplated jail time. Matt had called the cops as soon as we both saw the bruises on Vanessa’s arms. He told the football team to hide all the booze and tell everyone the party was over while Ryder and I rushed into the house to find Ava.

I catch Ryder’s eyes. Seeing the tightness of his jaw, he’s thinking the same thing.

“I’ll tell you what’s going on, Nate. My mom will sue all these motherfuckers!” Dean snarls, wiping the blood dripping from his nose with the back of his hand.

“Go ahead.” Ava’s voice from behind is shaky at best, but determination laces her tone. “Call your mom. Tell her what you did to Vanessa. What you just did to me.”

Dean starts to laugh but abruptly stops when we hear sirens getting louder and louder.

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