"Don't play like that, not when it comes toher." I deadpan, trying to rear back the anger that was surfacing.
"Don't be such a moody prick. It was a joke." Jett says as he rolls his eyes and continues walking.
"You have the worst idea of jokes," I say bluntly as I walk a few steps behind him. Jett laughs in return.
Jett and I are different. He's bubbly and outgoing, while I'm reserved and keep to myself. He doesn't know how to shut up sometimes, and I'd rather listen than talk. One thing we have in common is a fierce feeling of protectiveness regarding the people we love and care about. Our anger and aggression are identical. He controls his anger better than I do. I'm the hot head, especially when it's over something I'm passionate about, especially concerningher.
We make our way down the beach as a group of people come into view.
Via.
She's always the first one my eyes are drawn to in a crowd. She's dressed in a light blue bikini that ties on the shoulders and her hips, with a white see-through coverup over it. Her wild, curly, dark brown hair blows in the breeze, making her even more alluring.
"Is that—"
"It's fucking Marcus and his crew of douchebags," I say as the entire group comes clearly into view.
Marcus has been after Via for about two years now. His family owns a house further down the island, and he's also a summer regular. He's one of those guys who thinks he can get any girl he wants and uses them like disposable trophies. He wants to get his reward, then toss them aside after he brags to his buddies of idiots.
"He's talking to V," Jett says directly, and we both pick up our pace.
As we get closer, Izzy screams, "She said she isn't interested. Go creep on someone else, Marcus!" Marcus laughs and wraps his arms around Via, swooping her off the ground and whispering something in her ear. His hand is gripping her ass. Via swats and shoves his chest.
"Put me down, you fucking idiot!" Via's scream pierces through the air of the distance that separates us.
That's all it takes for me to see red. Before I know it, I'm full-blown running, and I make it over to them just as he sets her down.
"Ander!" Via screams just as my fist connects with his jaw, and he stumbles down to the ground.
"Fucking chill, Anderson! He was just fucking with her!" Alex, one of the guys in his douche crew, calls out as he helps Marcus up off the ground.
I push past his little posse, getting face-to-face with Marcus. Jett, Via, and Izzy are all screaming at me, but my ears are ringing with rage from seeing him touch her, and I can't hear what they're saying.
"Mommy and Daddy may have never told you 'no' in your life," I shove at his chest, causing him to stumble backward. "So it may be weird for you to hear, but if a woman tells you 'no,' youfucking back down! You don't touch her just because you want to!"
Seething, I shove at his chest again.
"You fucking know Via is with me!"
Another shove right before my fist connects with his nose. He stumbles and falls to the ground again; his friends surround him, but none of them can step up and help him. I wouldn't care if they would. I'd take them all if they tried.
You don't put your fucking hands on her and get away with it.
"Bro, back down. He's down." Jett's voice rings in as I step back, still seething.
"Ander!" Her voice in my ear causes my head to snap toward hers in full attention. She runs her hand up and down my bicep soothingly. Taking a few more steps back, I spin around, our eyes connecting instantly, and my anger begins to subside with the look she's giving me, a look that says everything she feels for me.
I pick Via up in my arms. Her legs wrap around my waist without hesitation. I stare into her eyes for a moment before I turn my head and glare at Marcus. "You'll never have this. Never have her. She's mine." I lean back in and take her mouth in a hungry kiss.
Breathless, we separate as the crowd that previously surrounded us walks away. My eyes connected with hers, I whisper. "I love you so much. I'm so in love with you, Rosie."
"I know." She nods with a smile. "I love you, too. Now, come on, monkey man," Via giggles as she grabs my hand and leads us toward the levee.
"Monkey man?" I chuckle, raising my eyebrows at her, as I tug her arm, pulling her into my arms and wrapping her in my embrace.
"Yeah. You went all Tarzan on him. Me, man. You, no man. Via, Mine. Whoo ha ha."
Jett and Izzy erupt with laughter beside us, and I follow along with them.
