Chapter 20 #3
Explaining things to Brody might be a good starting point to gauge how Nate will react.
The three of us have been together for a long time.
We know the ins and outs of each other, and if one of those two is disappointed in something, you can almost bet the other one will react the same way.
I’ve always chalked it up to them being more rigid and structured in life than me.
More serious, less casual. Nate was always about the job, and until Heather passed away, Brody was always about family life.
So I’m thinking if I can get Brody on board, it’ll be a great warm up to talking to Nate.
Jordan gasps, her body going rigid beside me. “Oh no.”
Alarm bells in my head ring, and I follow her gaze to see what set her off.
Fuck.
Paul and his dude-bros are headed for our bus, and the driver isn’t on board yet to drive us away. I figured once we were off the plane we’d be rid of him, but it makes sense that he and his friends drove up to San José as well.
“Hey.” Using a finger to turn her chin towards me, I offer Jordan a smile. “Don’t worry about them. He’s not going to do shit to you with me around.”
“It’s not me I’m worried about.”
My eyes narrow at her implication. Why is she worried about me?
And what exactly is she worried about? Me handling business?
Giving the douchebag a piece of my mind?
We’re not on a plane anymore, and if he says one thing to any of us, he’s going to find out why that was a bad idea.
I was nice the first couple of times we’ve run into him, but I’m tired as fuck, getting hungry, and I no longer have the patience to handle him with the kid gloves he requires.
Oh. This is probably why she’s concerned.
My thumb joins my finger at her chin, gripping it loosely as I close the distance between us until I’m a fraction of an inch from her. “It’s so nice to know you worry about me, Fireball. I promise to play nice as long as he does.”
Brushing my lips faintly across hers, her chest falls with the breath she lets out. It’s not the relaxed state I’d hoped for, but she’s supple, returning the kiss. My lips grow firmer against hers, taking all that she’ll give.
“Oh for fuck’s sake, get a damn room. Not everyone wants to see or hear this shit.”
My chest rumbles with a growl I know Jordan feels. She stiffens as I part from her, raising my head an inch, though I don’t give Paul the satisfaction of looking in his direction. My eyes are locked on Jordan’s, trying to convey that I’ve got it handled.
“Don’t look then, douchebag. Pretty easy solution if you ask me.”
“Doesn’t solve the hearing part, asshole. It’s fucking disgusting.”
Lifting my head in his direction, my lip curls into a sneer. “That what you tell all the women you fuck?”
He smirks, his loathing falling, replaced by satisfaction. “Why don’t you ask your girlfriend?”
Jordan grabs my forearm as I start, ready to get out of my seat. “Don’t.”
“You know, Jor,” Paul pauses, his eyes sliding from me to Jordan. I can feel her stiffen beside me which has a shot of adrenaline turning my blood icy hot. “I thought you were classier than this. But I suppose when you date down, you can’t help but turn into Quinn.”
Red is all I see. Chaos erupts behind me, but I hardly hear the cacophony as I charge towards Paul. My hands just barely graze his shirt when strong arms grab both of mine and pull me backwards, despite me struggling against them, rage seething through every inch of my body.
I’m done with this fucking guy. Someone needs to teach him a lesson, and that someone is going to be me. While Brody grabbing me doesn’t surprise me, because he’s the type that wouldn’t hurt a fly, I’m shocked that Luke is taking his side instead of helping me pummel this douchebag’s face in.
“Let it go,” Luke’s voice penetrates through the ringing in my ears.
“Stop,” Brody’s deep voice follows.
“Liam, please! He isn’t worth it.”
It’s Jordan that has the fight draining from me. I still want to kick Paul’s fucking ass, but the plea in her voice, the fear and panic that I hear, has me calming down. I shrug against my brothers’ hold on me.
“You good?” Luke asks.
My eyes are still pinned on Paul, who smiles with smugness, his own friends standing behind him, ready to take all of us on. I’d give anything to wipe that fucking look off his face. Instead I give Luke a nod.
“I’m good.”
I don’t need to see them to know that Luke and Brody are exchanging a look prior to reluctantly loosening their grip on my arms before releasing me completely.
Sliding a hand down my shirt to smooth out any wrinkles, I convey one final warning to Paul by pointing at him, sneering as my nostrils flare.
“One more time, douchebag, and nobody’s gonna hold me back.”
“There a problem here?”
Glancing towards the front of the bus, the driver stands there with a hand on his radio, eyes narrowed at all of us.
“Nope,” I call as casually as possible. “No problem.”
He’s still staring as I turn back to my brothers and give them both a slap on the arm as thanks.
It’s not truly them that my attention falls on though.
It’s on Jordan who is standing behind them, panic still in her eyes.
I push through Brody and Luke to get to her, bringing my hands up to cup her face, but before I have a chance to say a word to her, Paul is pathetically trying to get my attention again.
“I’ll remember to insult the slut next time I want you two to knock off your disgusting habits,” Paul calls smugly. “It worked well.”