“Like I said, I work early tomorrow. I should be asleep right now.” My voice quivers. Get a grip.
“That’s too bad. I was hoping we could do something other than sleep.” Dismissing my rejection, he grabs the back of my neck for a forceful kiss. I manage to whip my head just in time.
“Stop!” I try to shove him off, but he barely staggers. Fear paralyzes me. Kendrick’s not home—he’s still hiding from my mom in Blake’s man cave—Winter seems to be out, and my mom is at work. I’m all alone.
“You fucking tease. You’ve been making eyes at me the whole night, and now you don’t want it? Two seconds ago, you were practically begging me to fuck you.”
Balls smashing in 3, 2, 1…
“How fucking blind do you have to be?”
Simon leaps three steps away from me, caught in the act. I could cry when I glance over his shoulder and see Will slamming his car door. I have no idea why he’s here, but I couldn’t care less if I tried. He’s here. That’s all that matters.
“Who’s this clown?” Simon frowns.
“Someone who’s going to smash your face to the fucking concrete if you don’t get back in your car in the next five seconds,” Will says in a chilling, calm voice, the only indicator of his anger his clenched, blood-drained fists.
I watch as Simon considers his options: fight or flee. He has the good sense to opt for the latter and walk away. Wise choice. Not only does Will have a good four inches on him, he’s also buffer, bearing broader shoulders. He would murder him.
“You’re fucking ugly anyway,” Simon spits, trailing to his car.
That’s what does it.
Will snaps. “The fuck did you just say to her?”
Uh-oh.
Will’s strides toward Simon before I can blink.
“Will, no!” I screech just as Will’s cocking his fist back and launching it square into Simon’s jaw, who plummets to the ground like dead weight.
“Apologize,” Will grits out, hoisting Simon up by the collar of his branded shirt. That’s when it ceases to be about defending my honor. When it becomes about something else.
Something more.
Pure rage emanates off him.
I have never seen Will lose his temper like this.
“Or what?” Simon confirms he has a death wish.
There goes another punch. Will doesn’t once let go of him, watching blood trickle down Simon’s forehead.
“Last chance, rapist,” Will hisses.
“Fuck you.” Simon spits out blood.
“Get over yourself and do it!” I shout at the top of my lungs.
Will puts up another fist, and Simon’s entire body tenses before he squeezes his eyes shut and yells, “Okay! Okay! Fuck. I’m sorry.” He holds his hands up in surrender.
Will halts himself midswing, his fist drooping by his side. Can’t blame Simon for backing down. I almost shit my pants for him.
“Leave.” Will seethes inches away from Simon’s face. “And lose her fucking number.” He releases Simon’s collar with a strong push that sends him swaying. Simon stumbles to his car and disappears down the street in a deafening roar.
“What the hell was that?” I blurt out.
“It’s called saving your ass. You’re welcome.” Will spins around, steering toward his car.
“Bullshit.” I spring into his way, acting as a roadblock. “You could’ve just roughened him up a bit. It looked personal.”
“Are you serious? He tried to force himself on you. What else was I going to do? Let it happen again?”
Again?
Did I miss the first time?
“What do you think would’ve happened if I hadn’t been there, huh?” he continues. “You think he would’ve stopped at a kiss? You should be happy I showed up when I did.”
“Why did you even show up in the first place?” I ask.
“Doesn’t matter.” He aims for his car again.
“It does to me!” I slap my palms to his torso, desperate to slow him down. Only then does he stop, the quick rising of his chest dropping as he looks at me.
He avoids my gaze, his jaw tight as he admits, “You didn’t answer your phone. I got worried.”
My heart clenches in my chest.
Crap, stupid feelings are still there.
He has no idea how much harder he makes it for me when he says things like that.
“Thank you. I have no idea what I would’ve done if you hadn’t been there,” I say truthfully, and his features soften.
“I’ll always be there, Kass. You know I got your back,” he says, a whisper of emotion in his voice. It’s not just noise—he means it. The thought makes me want to hug the life out of him. “What happened? Why didn’t you pick up?”
“We were already on our way out when you called.”
“Next time you tell me what’s going on, you hear me?” he scolds. “No, you know what? Don’t allow next time to happen again. Period.”
I only want next time to be with you.
“I won’t,” I agree, watching his shoulders unwind.
The dust settles around us. Driving his hands deep into his pockets, he looks at me in silence.
“So…” He shifts from side to side.
“So…” I repeat.
“I’m going to go.” He motions to his car, turning to leave.
The words slip out of my mouth.
“Or you could stay.”
He stops dead in his tracks. Then glances at me over his shoulder, debating.
“W-We could watch a movie or just… talk,” I stammer in a weak attempt to cover up the fact that I basically asked him to spend the night in my bed again.
He stares at me intently for long, dragging seconds.
“Okay.”
“Are you ready to tell me what really happened out there?” I shut my laptop and roll to my side to see Will half passed out next to me. The movie was crap, but we stuck it out. My guess is we preferred the shitty movie over acknowledging what happened earlier. We needed a second.
Translation: Will needed a second.
“You’re not going to let it go, are you?” he exhales.
“Nope.”
He scoffs. “Didn’t think so.”
Will stretches, flipping on his back and guiding one arm under his head.
“I’ve never seen you so…”
“Angry?” he finishes.
I nod.
“What can I say? Douchebags being abusive to women piss me off. Sue me.”
There’s more. So much more he’s not telling me, I know it. I wonder how long he’s been doing this. Locking his soul up tight and throwing away the key. Does Kendrick, his supposed best friend, know more than I do?
Does anyone know more?
“You said you couldn’t let it happen again.”
“So? I spoke too fast. Didn’t mean anything.”
“But—”
“Kass.” He scowls at me, his tone warning me to let it go.
“Fine.” I concede defeat. “This dress is hell. I’m going to change.” I push off my bed, picking clothes out of my dresser and scurrying toward my bathroom.
I pause two steps inside.