Page 18 of The Catcher
“You’re a psycho, man,” Matt was yelling. “Fucking psycho.”
“I told you not to fuck with her,” Tanner roared back. When he was usually so cold and uninterested, it was a shock to hear him sound so hot with fury.
Miguel waved for everyone else to go back to their drinks and motioned for the barkeeper to turn up the music.
“Do that again and I’ll kill you,” Tanner said, and I was startled by the malice in his voice.
Matt raised his hands. “Fine, whatever, I’m not doing this shit. She’s yours, man.”
“She always was,” Tanner said sharply, and I wanted to run my nails down his stupid face, but when I tried to he grabbed my wrists laughingly and pinned me against his body.
“Careful, tiger,” he said mockingly. “You’ll hurt yourself, little mama.”
I shook my head to clear the shiver that went down my spine at how close he was and I drummed my heels back as hard as I could on his shins, but he didn’t put me down.
I wanted to scream. I knew it was ridiculous to feel this frightened in the middle of a bar, with dozens of people there, but with Tanner’s arm around me, tightening around my waist, Iwas.
Then I heard a voice I had hoped never to again, and I glanced up to see him.
It was Noah McConnell, my ex.
8
Ifelt my stomach twist uncomfortably. Ugh. We were not on good terms.
“Hello, Emrys,” he said.
Noah was blonde and blue-eyed, with a bright perfect white smile, and he had on a perfectly-pressed shirt and slacks. He made a big contrast with Tanner, who was dressed in a T-shirt and lazy athletic pants slung over his hips.
Tanner put me down beside him, as the other guys melted back into the bar to get drinks.
“I understand you two dated,” Tanner said. “You’ve mentioned an ex.”
“H-how did you find him?” I asked, trying to shrink away, melt into the wall and disappear.
Tanner gave me a dark, low glance. “It’s my business to find out whatever I want about you,” he said.
I couldn’t speak.
It so was not.
“W-w-what is he doing here?” I finally managed.
“I’m thinking about making him my assistant,” Tanner said, watching me narrowly. “Would you like that?”
My mouth went dry. It was the only thing that could possibly make my situation even worse.
“Why would you do that?” I croaked.
“I didn’t say I was going to,” Tanner corrected, cocking his head at me. “I asked if you wanted me to.”
Noah flicked glances between us. “Emrys, you wouldn’t stand in between me and getting a job like this?” he asked. “You know I’ve always wanted to work in the major leagues. I would’ve gone pro myself if I hadn’t gotten injured.”
I hesitated. I didn’t want to look at Tanner, but I had absolutely no clue what his game was here. I had just seen him beating the shit out of Matt for daring to sit next to me, and now he was forcing me to see my ex?
Miguel came up and whispered something in Tanner’s ear, and Tanner turned his head for a moment.
Noah took the opportunity to draw me down the dark hallway a few steps.
