Chapter 21 #2
The asshole snorts and crosses his arms over his chest, completely unfazed by the glares Theo and I level at him.
“No way in hell am I doing that. If she doesn’t want to be labelled a whore, she shouldn’t be fucking multiple men.
In fact, you should all be ashamed of yourselves. There are kids here.”
“Since when has anything we do in private between consenting adults have anything to do with you or anyone else?” Theo snaps, his body coiled and ready to spring into action.
I’m not far off. “You don’t see any of us stripping down and fucking one another in public.
The most we’ve done is kiss or touched one another, something every other couple has done.
God forbid a child see adults being affectionate with one another. ”
“That’s not it, and you know it,” he snaps back. “No one wants to see your slut rubbing herself all over multiple men.”
A growl rumbles in my chest as I take a dangerous step towards him, hands clenched into fists. But before I can raise one to rearrange his face, a smaller, softer hand wraps around my arm.
“Don’t. The pathetic little man isn’t worth it,” Ollie says, gazing up at me. She’s trying her best to hide how much the asshole’s words have hurt her, but I can see it in the way her eyes shimmer with unshed tears and her pinched brow.
It makes me want to hurt the bastard more.
“You think I’m pathetic?” the dead man scoffs. “The slut who’s rubbing herself over several men?”
Pain flashes in Ollie’s eyes, and her hand tightens on my arm, stopping me from ripping this guy a new asshole. Theo is practically vibrating with rage beside me, but judging from how he’s not moving, Ollie must be holding him back too.
No one stops Rhys, though.
He comes out of nowhere like a raging bull and slams his fist into the asshole’s face with a satisfying crunch.
The man cries out and crumples to the ground, clutching his face.
People around us gasp in horror and shock, although interestingly, a lot of them are nodding in approval.
Ollie curses, drops her hand from me and hurries over to Rhys, who’s crouched beside the man, whispering something in his ear that has him whimpering.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” she hisses as she grabs him and yanks him away, but there’s no heat to her voice. If anything, she looks… impressed.
Rhys’s lips curl upwards into a smug smile. “Sure, but he deserved it. If no one’s allowed to insult me, princess, then no one’s allowed to do the same to you.”
I’m pretty sure Ollie melts at his words. Slowly but surely Rhys is making up for his mistakes.
The asshole wails out several curses, most of them incoherent, since his hand is covering his face and blood is spewing from his broken nose. It’s eerily similar to how Jerri reacted when Ollie socked her good at the barn over a week ago.
As if summoned by my thoughts, the witch herself appears, scoffing at the whining man on the floor. “Oh, shut up, would you, Kyle? It’s just a punch, not a bullet wound.” She rolls her eyes, greets Ollie with a small nod, and strides off, ignoring the rest of us.
Apparently, the two women have come to an understanding ever since they saved each other’s lives, and it’s…
weird. At least she’s not slinging insults at Rhys anymore.
In fact, she barely even acknowledges him, which is something I think everyone prefers.
It’s certainly made enduring her a lot easier.
She’s still a massive bitch, though.
Theo blows out a breath and stares down at the whimpering, moaning man at his feet.
“We warned you, asshole,” he says before lifting his head to take in the rest of the room.
“And let this be a warning to the rest of you. You don’t insult Ollie or any of us for what we do as consenting adults, understand? ”
There are a few frantic nods and murmurs of assent, but I spot a few people who still regard Ollie with disgust and loathing. I make a note of them as I narrow my eyes at them, staring hard with bared teeth until each and every one averts their gaze.
Theo meets my eyes, and he nods with silent approval. We’re both on the same page. If they’re not going to be nice to our girl, then they don’t even get to look at her.
Ollie huffs and rolls her eyes. “Alright, you cavemen, let’s get out of here. I’m done being the entertainment.”
Theo’s eyes light up and a devilish smile spreads across his lips. “Perfect. We have some unfinished business to attend to.” He grabs her arm and practically drags her out of the room.
Rhys watches them go and groans softly. “Guess I’m not going back to the cabin,” he mutters as he grabs the reports off the table.
“Probably a good idea,” I say, patting him on the shoulder as the two of us plus a confused-looking Harlow exit out of the cafeteria and into the early spring sunshine.
“Although I saw the way she looked at you after you punched that guy. Just keep doing what you’re doing, and it won’t take long for her to trust you again. ”
He sighs and looks longingly toward our cabin. “I hope so.” He offers me a small, sad smile before turning and striding in the opposite direction.
I watch him go for a moment, head cocked to the side.
The idea of sharing Ollie with yet another person should fill me with dread or jealousy, but it doesn’t.
Not when it’s Rhys, the man who’s been my best friend for over two decades and has been there for me during my darkest moments.
I trust him and I trust Ollie not to break my heart.
I grin and turn to hurry towards the cabin, to my future. I’m finally putting my past behind me and moving on.