Page 16 of Thick & Thin

“Go tell Colton to come here,” I said, only realizing then that there was a slight slur in my words.

He nodded, moving away from my side to do as I asked without any questions.

From my vantage point, I watched as JJ went up to Colton and pulled him in to speak in his ear. Colton’s eyes darted my way before he nodded and said something to Jenny. She smiled, said something, and then moved away from the wall.

Colton’s eyes were hard while he made his way across the room toward me, but he knew better than to start shit.

“What’s up, man?” he asked, sliding into the chair across the table from me.

“Nothing.”

I wasn’t going to make excuses. He knew why I called him over.

Feeling the tension, JJ spoke up. “Man, I wish we had one more season of football to play. I’m going to miss kicking asses on the field.”

Colton’s eyes stayed glued to mine as he said, “Speaking of asses, when did Jenny Michaels turn into porn star material?”

He was taunting me—trying to get me to break. He would have to try harder if that was going to happen. I wasn’t about to out myself when it came to my feelings for Jenny. I was sure a few of my closest friends had a clue, but everyone else, including Jenny, were clueless, and I wanted to keep it that way.

I didn’t respond.

Instead, I locked eyes with him, raising my brow in warning when I lifted my beer to my lips.

“I mean, who knew she had all that sexy hiding under her baggy clothes?” he pushed.

No one at the table responded, somehow knowing he was playing with fire. He had been drinking and so had I. I would give him pass for the night, but if he kept it up, I couldn’t be responsible for my actions.

Lifting a brow in challenge, he took a swig from his beer before he said, “She’s so fucking rough and rowdy. I bet she fucks like a porn star, too. Guess I’ll find out later tonight when she comes over after she takes you home.”

That was all I needed to hear.

I leaped across the table and went for Colton’s throat, wrapping my fingers tightly around it. The beers on the table went crashing to the floor as I slid over it and jumped him. He rolled us, using my momentum against me, but before he could get in a hit, I pushed him off me and went for him again. Grabbing him around the neck, I landed a punch in his face before I felt someone pulling me off him.

“Fucker!” I heard Colton call out from the floor.

My breath was rushing out, my knuckles aching as I stood over him.

“Say one more fucking thing. I dare you,” I growled down at him.

He wiped at the side of his mouth where a tiny drop of blood had begun, and he stood. He was wobbly, and I wasn’t sure if it was from my fist or if he had drunk too much.

“Fuck you! When I’m done with her, I’m going to tell you all about what an amazing fuck she is!”

I broke out of JJ’s hold, moving too quickly for Colton to block me, before once again wrapping my fingers around his throat and slamming him against the cinder block wall behind him. He growled at me, his fingers digging at mine for me to release my hold.

“Josh, stop it!” Jenny voice broke through.

She clawed at my arm.

“Let him go! He can’t breathe!”

“I don’t care,” I muttered.

And at that moment, friend or not, I didn’t care. I wanted to break him.

“Joshua Black, let him go right fucking now!”

She was strong. She always had been. So, when she buried herself between our chests and pushed against me, I budged. She pushed me farther, a palm on Colton’s chest and one on mine. I looked down, her hand was small and warm, sending a ripple of ease through me.

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