“That’s enough, Randall,” I demand. “She’s not interested.”
“Oh, yeah, kid? Well,Iam. Now stay out of my business before I have a very lengthy chat with your boss about your attitude.”
“You can get me fired for all I damn well care,” I tell him, my jaw clenched painfully tight. “Stay the hell away from Darcy.”
Randall watches me, then Darcy, then me again.
“She’syourwoman? Well, shit, kid, why didn’t you say so? I wouldn’t have interfered if I knew she was yours.”
I blanch at him. “‘Mywoman?’ No. She’s a fucking person, Randall, not a pet. What the hell is wrong with you?”
Randall scoffs. “‘Pet’? Please, Cody, I would never insinuate?—”
“But you did! Even if she was ‘my woman’ which she most certainly is not, who the fuck do you think you are getting up in her face like that?”
I feel a hand on my shoulder, and I hear Darcy say my name, but I’m too angry to stop. I think I might hit this pathetic old man.
Even old Randall seems nervous now. He shifts his weight back and forth between his feet, and I have the fleeting thought that I could push him over and send him toppling down this hill. No one would ever have to know.
“I said I’m sorry, kid?—”
I lose control over myself. I shove him, and he stumbles on his feet, just barely managing to catch himself.
“Don’t call me ‘kid!’”
I’m in his face. I can hear his short, fearful breaths.
“I’m not your fucking kid!”
“Cody, stop!” Darcy yells, trying to tug me back, but I’m too strong for her. There’s nothing she can do to stop me.
“Tell Darcy that you’re sorry for being a perverted douche,” I demand. For good measure, I grab Randall by the sleeve of his overstuffed jacket and give him a good shake. I couldn’t possibly describe the satisfaction I get from the terrified whimper he makes. Like a damn baby.
Randall’s eyes don’t leave mine. His voice shakes. His hands tremble at his sides. “I-I’m sorry, Darcy.”
I give him another good shake. “Say it like you mean it, old man. Apologize.”
“I’m sorry, Darcy!” he cries. “I’m truly very sorry! I didn’t mean anything by what I said, but I see now that I was wrong, and I apologize to you for my behavior.”
Darcy stomps up to us and shoves me away from Randall. I stumble back in surprise and see the anger burning Darcy’s face a shade of bright red.
“I don’t need you to fight my battles for me. I’m not fucking helpless, Cody.”
She’s mad at me. Why is she mad at me? He was the one objectifying her. I was only trying to help.
“I don’t think you’re help—” I start, but she interrupts.
“I’m done. I knew this was a bad idea.” She grabs her skis and starts stomping down the mountain before I can even think of what to say. I just stare after her in surprise.
“See?” Randall gestures toward Darcy. “I told you she was feisty.”
“Fuck off, Randall.” I push past the man and try to go after Darcy, but she’s already too far gone to reach without running and making a fool of myself.
And the worst part is that I don’t even know what I did wrong.
CHAPTER 9
DARCY
