All I have time to do is block the attack with my elbow.
"Fuck off, Jett!"
"Not Jett! It’s me." I sidestep before she lands another gym-bag blow.
She shrieks, probably realizing she just tried to murder someone other than her boyfriend.
"I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you," I offer. "I saw you two fighting. It looked kinda ugly."
"And you thought you could follow me?" she snaps. "What the actual hell, Cruz?"
"I’m sorry. I swear I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
She squares her small shoulders, tilts her head up to meet my gaze, and asks boldly, "Why wouldn’t I be okay?"
The sudden quiet of this corner of the field presses in on us. We’re far away from the VIP tents now, somewhere behind the merch booths. Here, in this intimate space, the music is just a faint hum in the background, and every ragged breath, every heated glance feels amplified. Dangerous.
I hold up my hands in a gesture of peace, trying to ignore the electricity crackling between us. "I promise I’m not a stalker. Jett was acting like a realpendejoback there."
She scoffs, crossing her arms over her chest. But I catch the flicker of vulnerability in her eyes before she shutters it away. "I can handle Jett. I don't need you to rescue me."
"I know you don't need rescuing," I say softly, taking a tentative step closer.Maybe it’s me who needs rescuing. "But you deserve better than somecabrónwho humiliates you in front of everyone."
Wendy’s gaze meets mine, defiant yet searching. Her laugh is harsh when it comes out. Brittle, even. "You think I don't know that?"
"I’m sure you do, but why stay with him?"
She flinches as if I've struck her. "You seriously just went there?"
I fucked up. I knew it the moment the question slipped out.Yep. Way to go, Cruz. You see a pretty girl and your brain stops working."Sorry."
"I didn't ask for your relationship advice. You don't know a damn thing about my life."
"Never said I did. Just hate guys like Jett, who think they own everyone and everything because their band has one decent song with just enough airplay for people to recognize their name in certain circles."
"Not a good look on you right now."
"You think I’m showing off?"
"That’s exactly what you're doing. Just because you’re in a bigger band doesn’t mean shit."
"I think it does."
"Screw you." She flips me the bird.
"I’ve lost track of what we’re arguing about," I confess.
She blinks at me rapidly, quiet and tense at first. Then we both burst into mad laughter.
"Listen, I’m really sorry," I say to her when we calm down a little. "I know you can take care of yourself. I just saw you ripping your boyfriend a new one in front of everyone, but I mean it. He’s not considered to be…what you’d call a gentleman. I just think you should be aware. What you do with that info is up to you."
She rolls her eyes. "Sometimes, Jett can be embarrassing. Especially when he drinks."
"Most people are."
"He becomes a real asshole."
"Wanna know a secret?"
