Page 112 of Dirty Player
The asshole’s eyes narrowed on me.
Shannon’s widened in surprise.
“You’re still touching her,” I said, stepping closer.
Red blurred the edges of my vision. Ever since the day before, I’d been trying to figure out what to say to Shannon to get her to believe nothing had happened with Bethany, to apologize for being such a fucking dick at the hospital. All of it sounded like bullshit. There was no way I could go to her without being able to explain everything in a way that made sense—that would make her forgive me, like I needed her to…desperately.
On top of all of it, I’d driven my parents back to Georgia the day before, turned around, and driven home. I hadn’t slept in almost forty-eight hours, but when I got a text from Bethany telling me she’d gone to explain to Shannon, I had come as soon as I could.
I’d almost wanted to strangle the little shit for not minding her own business.
“What are you doing here?” Shannon asked, wide-eyed as Patrick finally let her go when I got close enough to punch him. Screw my catching hand. I’d love to jam my fist into his face. That she thought I wasn’t any better than him, thinking that I could have cheated on her—her, of all people—made me want to punch my own face, too.
I glared at Patrick and reached out, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her to my side. She stiffened immediately, but fuck him. He wasn’t touching her again. If she didn’t forgive me, that was her choice and my fault, but there was no way he was leaving there thinking he had a chance of putting his hands on her again.
“I thought we had dinner plans,” I whispered, brushing my lips against her temple.
Patrick’s face flushed as I kept my eyes glued to him while I kissed her.
Shannon flinched again, but I held her tighter. Fuck, there was nowhere else I wanted her to be. Ever.
“You should go,” I said, glaring at Patrick. “You’ve lost her, and you won’t have her again. Leave before you make an ass of yourself.”
“He already did,” Shannon said. Her gaze had stayed fixed on him while I held her. “Go, Patrick.”
“He’ll throw you away,” Patrick said, his hands in fists like he wanted to rip her away from me.
Like fuck that would happen. Now that I had her in my arms, I wasn’t letting her go. I’d stay glued to her side until she forgave me.
“Never. You had something good and treated her like shit the entire time because you thought she had to work to be as good as you. I’ll never fucking throw her away like you did.”
It was a vow. I meant every word. As soon as I spoke them, Shannon stiffened before relaxing next to me.
God, I hoped she believed me.
“We’ll talk later,” Patrick said, deepening his voice and looking at her.
I pushed her behind me until I was in front of her. Fuck that.
“You don’t get it,” I said, unable to stop myself from practically growling at the obnoxious dickhead. “She’s mine, and she’s not going back to you.”
“I can handle this, Oliver.”
“You can,” I said and turned to look at her, “but you won’t. You’ve dealt with enough shit lately and you’re not taking this on.”
A flutter of something softened her eyes, but I turned back to Patrick before I could read it.
“Go. And honest to God, I hear you’ve contacted her again and you’ll regret it.”
“You’re threatening me?” he said, pulling back. “Wonder what the media will say about that.”
“If you knew anything about me, you’d know I don’t give a shit what anyone says about me. Are you going to go, or do I need to help you out the door?”
“God, Patrick. Go.” Shannon’s annoyance rang thick and clear. “I mean, my God. You had me and treated me like shit. You took advantage of me, you killed any love I had for you long before you screwed Priscilla. Can’t you just do one decent freaking thing in your life and leave me alone?”
“I love you.”
She glared at him and then walked next to me. She was stiff and angry, and I saw it in her eyes, but I still fucking grinned when she slid her arms around my waist. “You don’t know what love is. If you did, you would have cherished me when you had me, not hung me out to dry and expected me to stay with you. You’re selfish and egotistical and you’re pissed you lost a toy. Now go, or Oliver will help you.”
