Chapter 35
CHAPTER 35
Tagger
Pris stands in front of me like she’ll be able to stop the power of a charging bull, also known as her brother. She throws her hands in front just as he reaches me. My girl is braver than most.
Baylor shows no sign of slowing and pushes against her. “Move it, Pris,” he yells in her face when she pushes back. That’s enough incentive to beat his ass.
Fuck that. “Don’t you fucking yell or touch her!”
Grabbing her arms, he shifts in one quick move to the side and is in my face. “What are you gonna do about it?” He shoves his chest against me, out of fucking control and taking this bullshit too far.
I shove his ass back, not intimidated in the least. I don’t want to kick my best friend’s ass, but I won’t hesitate to throw the first punch. “You’re such a fucking asshole, Baylor. She’s a grown woman.”
He recovers from the push and stupidly comes back for more. The veins in his neck start protruding, and I can tell he’s going to take this too far. “She’s my baby sister, you fucker.”
“Oh my God, Baylor!” She entangles herself between us. Shooting me a dirty look over her shoulder, she then pokes him in the chest. That’s going to leave a mark. “I can have sex with whoever I please, and it pleases me very much to have sex with Tagger.”
Fairly certain that’s not helping the situation.
His ire reaches his eyes, turning his blue eyes dark with anger. Staring at me from over her shoulder, he says, “I’m going to fucking kill you, Grange.”
A call to arms, adrenaline races through my veins, and I strengthen my stance, ready to land the first punch if forced to do so. “No, you’re not.”
“The fuck?” He tries to reach over her to land a half-assed jab, but I duck too fast for that loser.
“Stop it, Baylor,” she shouts, still between us. “Calm down.”
“No fucking way, sis. I look away for one minute, and this asshole starts fucking my sister.” He throws his head back. “Good God, out of line and so fucking gross.”
She whacks his chest. “Hey! That’s me you’re talking about.” She pushes him back a few feet, and says, “And that minute was four years.”
“Blink of an eye,” he snaps at her.
I’ll fight him if he wants. Not sure what that will accomplish, but he apparently needs a lesson in not fucking with the wrong guy. I weave around her. “I’m not proud of kicking your ass?—”
“Wha—” My fist lands right where I want it—on this upper cheek.
Pris gasps, holding her hand over her mouth. “Oh my God.” On the receiving end of a dirty look, she throws her arm out and points at the barn. “Go over there.” Shit. Now she’s upset with me? Damned if you do . . .
I throw my hands up like I’m innocent in all this. “He was threatening me.” I’d be lying if I said this was the first physical fight we’d been in, but we competed for everything growing up. We could be happy for the other, but we also came to blows a few times.
She huffs, her anger getting the better of her. “Just go.” Going to her brother, she says, “Why are you doing this? You disappear for years of my life, then come back like you have a say in who I date?” Holding his face, she forces him to look at her. “You don’t. You don’t have a say anymore.”
Her words hit harder than I ever could, and they change him. The tension in his face lessens, the veins in his neck not as obvious, but the pain in his eyes has me wondering where we go from here. Redirecting his anger, he scoffs. “What the fuck, Tagger?”
“What’s going on out here?” Their dad comes stomping across the porch and leans on the railing to figure out what he’s missing. “Baylor?”
“Surprise.” The friend I have, the one who cracks jokes and gets a little too close to the sun sometimes in some of his decision-making, doesn’t back down from much. Except when his dad gets involved.
Mr. Greene comes down the steps and around the house. His eyes latch onto me first, then volleys to his daughter and back. When he sees Baylor, he releases a heavy breath from his chest. “Good to see you, son.” He taps his temple. “You got some blood to clean up.” Shooting me the next judgment, he asks, “Did you do that, Tagger?”
Why do I suddenly feel fifteen again?
Mr. Greene’s always been a fair man, a good dad, and devoted husband. I don’t want to anger him more than I have, especially when it involves Pris and me dating, or moving in together, or whatever else we decide to do together.
Considering my knuckles are beginning to swell, I don’t think lying is the direction to go in. “Yes, sir. I did.”
A scowl wrinkles his forehead. “You sure do sound proud about punching your best friend in the face.”
I catch Pris rolling her eyes. She glances my way but maintains the distance between us. Nobody wants the heat of Thomas Greene on them. I say bring it on. I’ll go down in infamy for her, be Clyde to her Bonnie any old time. “Not proud, sir, but also not backing down because of someone’s demands.”
He eyes his daughter again. “Did those demands involve you?”
She pauses from the storm brewing in his voice, but then stiffens her spine like the woman I know her to be. “Yes.”
“And Tagger here?”
Raising her chin, she replies, “Yes.”
He looks at Baylor again and nods toward the house. “Go clean yourself up so you can say hello with respect.”
Baylor seems to have forgotten how things work on his father’s ranch. He and Pris have the final say since Baylor walked away.
Regret starts to set inside, not for loving my girl, not even for making love to her in the barn, but I never wanted to cause problems between her family. I can’t claim I didn’t know better, no matter how much I regret this conclusion.
Baylor glares at me once more before leaving to go inside the house.
It’s that look on his face, the one of anger and betrayal, that tells me where we stand in our friendship. It’s over, which fucking sucks. It didn’t have to be this way, but I’m sure he sees it the same.
Her dad approaches to stand in front of us, though the five feet remain between Pris and me. “You aren’t that clever. I don’t know why you were sneaking around. And I don’t think I want to, but the man in the moon could see what’s happening between you two. So let’s cut the shit and figure out how to deal with the unnecessary mess you found yourself in.”
“I love her, Mr. Greene.” I was pleading my case to him, but the look of surprise I catch in my periphery draws my gaze to her. “I love you. I’ve said it before, but I’m not hiding it anymore.” Turning back to face her dad, I say, “I’m in love with your daughter.”
“I know.” He sighs. “So what are you going to do about it with you up north in New York City and my daughter running our family ranch down here in Texas?”
“Dad.” Pris steps forward. “We’re?—”
“I want to hear from him, Christine.” His eyes never leave mine. “What are your intentions for my daughter?”
Seeing her worry her lip in concern, I reach out to hold her hand. When she slips it in mine, I whisper, “It’s okay. I don’t mind answering his question.” I don’t either, but I say, “We may not have it all figured out, but I’m confident in the direction we’re heading.”
“Jesus,” Baylor exclaims from the porch, tossing his head back in exasperation.
Her dad ignores him and pivots his gaze to her. “Is that how you feel?”
“I love him.” She glances at me quickly, then says, “With all my heart.”
Finally turning his attention to his son, he says, “It sounds like it’s settled then. Right, Baylor?”
He pushes off the railing and silently retreats into the house.
Mr. Greene chuckles. “It will take a few of us a little more time to get used to the idea.” Coming over to me, he pats me on the arm. “Seems you have another mess to clean up, but it’s best if you do it another day. Say your good night and head on home, son.”
His gaze passes over my shoulder and then narrows. “There’s a light on in the barn.”
Shit.