I didn’t want calm. I didn’t want understanding. I didn’t want this guy offering to talk like he was the damn victim.
I wanted him toregret it.
“I know what you did,” I said, voice like smoke.
He frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“You think you can just come in here, charm everyone, touch her—fuckher—like she’s a vacation fling?” My voice dropped then cracked, rage boiling over. “You think I wouldn’t figure it out?”
His face went tight, controlled. “That’s between me and Frankie. Not you.”
“She’s notyours,” I spat. “You don’t get tohaveher.”
Frenchy didn’t move. “Then neither do you.”
That was when I lunged.
Bubba caught me before I got more than half a step. Coop backed him up, grabbing my arms while I twisted, shouting, “Let me go! Let me go, dammit?—!”
Archie still didn’t move.
He just watched.
Watched while I fought everyone who wasn’t her. Watched while my control shredded into nothing. Watched while I lost the one thing I still thought I had—dignity.
“Shelovedme!” I half-yelled at Frenchy over Bubba’s shoulder. “Shelovedme first!”
Frenchy’s voice came quiet. “Maybe she did. But that doesn’t give you ownership.”
Coop flinched like that line hithim, too.
I stopped fighting.
Suddenly, I was so damn tired.
Bubba let go first. Coop second. Frenchy stayed rooted like he didn’t trust me not to go for it again, and honestly? Smart man.
I looked at him. This stranger who somehow knew her in ways I didn’t anymore. Who had pieces of her I used to guard with my life. And now?
Now he had her trust.
And I had my rage.
Cool. Great trade.
“I’m not done with you,” I said, voice dead even.
Frenchy nodded once. “I believe you.”
The silence between us stretched. Thick. Oily. Choking.
And then someone laughed.
Not close — not right here — but closeenough. A ripple of noise from the pool, a sudden swell in the music like the DJ sensed the temperature spike and hit shuffle on something poppy to compensate. But it didn’t work. Not for me.
Because I could stillfeelthe eyes.
Girls lined along the pool in their bikini armor and smirks. Sharon, Bubba’s bitch of an ex, in her green wrap and sunglasses pushed into her hair like a damn movie star, lookedamused. Shewhispered something to Patty, who full-on grinned like this was the best part of the evening. Popcorn-worthy drama.
