Billy sits back in his chair, still eyeballing Ezra like he’s a gnat. “Perhaps you can trust her, but canshetrustyou?”
Oh, shit. It’s a challenge to school my expression. I can’t even be upset with Billy for saying that. Ezra’s being such a cocksucker.
Ezra smirks. “Such an interesting question, Babcock. Let’s turn it around. Can Roxy trust you, the biggest player on campus? Because last I heard, you were having orgies and gangbangs at the Stallion Station.” He turns to me with victoryall over his face. “You should know what kind of guy you’re with, Roxy.”
That hypocrite. Billy has never lied to me, never made me promises he didn’t keep, and never slept around behind my back.
Red clouds my vision, and I can’t bite my tongue any longer. “Interestingyoushould question someone else’s morals, Ezra. Because last I heard, you shouldn’t go fucking half the women on campus when you’reengaged.”
All the air seems to get sucked out of the room.
Next to me, Abigail makes a pained sound in the back of her throat. “Wha… what are you talking about?”
I’m about to apologize for dropping that bomb on Abigail when Ezra pushes back his chair so hard, it clatters to the ground. “Nothing you need to worry about.” Then he mutters underneath his breath, “Just some skank who can’t keep her legs together, upset I didn’t fuck her at a party.”
A fraction of a second later, Billy leaps up and grabs the front of Ezra’s shirt. Next thing I know, he hauls back and punches him.
Ezra lands on the floor in a heap and grabs his face. “What the fuck! You broke my nose. I’m gonna sue your ass!”
“I’d like to see you try.” The entire restaurant turns to watch us as Billy stares him down. Leaning over him, he hisses, “Let’s be clear about one thing, asshole. Roxy has always been out of your league. And if I ever hear you talk about her like that again, you won’t be able to get up after I’m done.”
Then he grabs my hand, apologizes to Abigail for ruining dinner, and leads me out of the restaurant.
As I follow him through the maze of tables, my heart throbs in my chest like I just ran a marathon. Everyone is staring. Some people have their phones out.
I lift my chin because I will not be ashamed. There’s not a single cell in my body that regrets that punch. Billy stood up for me and took down the dirtbag who ruined my college experience.
But in the back of my mind, I hear the question loud and clear, like a foghorn slicing through a quiet night.
What is this going to cost him?
30
BILLY
It doesn’t takea genius to know I’m in a shitload of trouble. What kind of dumbass knocks the star quarterback on his ass in the middle of a packed restaurant? If I wanted to show Roxy I’m the kind of man she can rely on, I have a piss-poor way of proving that.
I hiss when Roxy adjusts the ice pack on my hand.
“I’m sorry. Did that hurt?”
“Not more than smashing Ezra’s face.”
Since we got home, Roxy’s been running around the apartment, grabbing first-aid supplies, and fussing over me. I’ve never had anyone fuss over me before. If my mother did it when I was young, my father flipped out, complaining I’d grow up to be a pussy.
I’m sitting on the couch, staring off, wondering just how bad this is gonna get, when she straddles my lap, grabs my face and presses a hard kiss to my lips. “That was really stupid, Billy.”
“Your father is gonna lose his shit when he finds out.”
“I don’t care what my father has to say about this. I just don’t want you to get in trouble. With the school. The cops. Your parents. My father is the least of our worries right now.”
“Our?”
She pauses. “What do you mean?”
“How is thisourproblem? I’m the idiot who punched Ezra. This is my problem.”
Her beautiful eyes fill with tears. “You’re in this situation because of me. You never would’ve gone on a double date with Ezra and Abigail if it weren’t for me. This is my fault.”
