Page 39 of Mad As Hell

I glared down at where he was touching me. “Let. Go.”

His gaze hardened and his fingers tightened, not enough to bruise but enough to let me know I wasn’t going anywhere without his permission.

God, I was so sick of being manhandled and told what to do.

Unfortunately for me, Ryan was about to see my least favorite trait: angry crying. When I got truly pissed off, like beyond reason pissed off? I cried. Not like some simpering beauty in a movie, but full-on swollen eyes, red face, snotty crying.

After this morning I didn’t think I had any tears left, but apparently there was no end to the well of pitiful sorrow and rage my soul lived in.

“You’re making a scene,” he reminded me coldly, but something else lingered in his eyes.

If this had been Ryan from a few weeks ago, I wouldn’t have even noticed it. I would have just assumed he was being his usual dictatorial asshole self by ordering me around.

But now that I knew him? I could see the genuine worry in his gaze. I was freaking him out.

I gritted my teeth and leaned down. “Unless you want the entire school to watch your fiancée have a full-blown meltdown, I suggest you let me the fuck go.”

His eyes narrowed, that piercing blue seeing too much.

“Ry, let her go,” Ash murmured.

Ryan drew in a long, slow breath, as if he was trying to get himself under control. His hold on me loosened, but only enough to slide his fingers down to mine and tangle them together as he stood up.

Bex looked ready to get up, too.

“I’m fine,” I assured her.

She didn’t look convinced. “I’m supposed to go to the doctor—”

“Why?” Court demanded.

Bex stiffened, barely sparing him a glance. “None of your business.” She looked at me. “I can cancel it and hang out with you.”

“Are you okay?” I asked softly, my gaze sweeping her. I noticed the guys were watching her closely, too. Like they were looking for signs something was wrong.

Bex’s cheeks tinged pink at the attention. “Just a routine checkup. No big deal.”

“I’m good,” I assured her. “I just need some space.” I turned and gave Ryan a pointed look that he blatantly ignored.

“Let’s go, baby.” He smiled stiffly at me and cocked an eyebrow.

Clenching my jaw to keep from screaming, I jerked my hand out of his and started marching toward the door.

But of course someone would step into our path.

I recognized the guy as one of the defensive lineman from Ryan’s team.

“Pascal,” Ryan drawled, clearly not wanting to talk but feeling obligated to stop.

Pascal looked at me. “Glad your girl wasn’t a traitor.” He smirked, and I wanted to slap him. “Again.”

Ryan smiled back, something darkly chilling passing across his face as he took my hand once more. “Yeah, we worked out our shit. Sorry about you and your girl, though.”

Pascal frowned. “What?”

Ryan’s expression turned cold and calculating. “She’s out back sucking Hanson’s dick.” He leaned forward. “Again.”

Pascal’s complexion turned red, and his beady brown eyes looked around the room desperately. His face went purple, I assumed when he realized neither his girlfriend nor the Hanson guy were in the room.

---