“She is right here.” I turn my head to see Lucy glaring at me, her arms folded, and I’m not sure I’ve ever look so angry before. “You don’t own me, Jasper. We broke up.”
“Right. So you could fuck your way through every rich douchebag in your college town.” Her mouth drops open in shock, and I know without a doubt I should shut up, but I can’t seem to. “Might as well start with him, right? Get some practice.”
I don’t see the punch coming. And for a moment, I think it was Emerson’s fist that thrusts into my right eye, but it’s not. Pain bursts through the right side of my eye, and Lucy pulls her hand back, holding her now bruised knuckles, and I stare at her in shock.
“What is going on?”
Kelly.
Kelly and John are standing here as I stand in shock.
“Holy. Shit,” Millie gasps, and Kelly doesn’t even scold her for swearing. We all just stand here, and I watch in horror as tears slide down Lucy’s cheeks.
To Emerson’s credit, he doesn’t say a word. He stands there, completely silent, as Lucy opens her mouth to speak.
“You don’t get to talk to me that way. I know you’re mad. But you don’t get to say those things for me. It was hard to break up with you. It broke my heart, but we aren’t right for each other.”
“I’m sorry,” I barely croak. “I’m really sorr—” I start to reach for her, but she pulls back and shakes her head at me.
“You should go,” she says, more tears spilling down her pretty, sweet face. Lucy. My Lucy—the girl who wouldn’t hurt a fly—just punched me in the face because I hurt her so badly.
“Come on, sweetie.” I feel Kelly’s hand on my arm, and I don’t fight her. I walk out to the parking lot with her as John and she walk me to my truck. I’m in a daze.
“I’m not going to ask you if you’re okay,” Kelly starts.
“I’m not,” I say as I pull my keys out. “But it won’t hurt my work. I promise.”
Her lips purse together, and she looks at John, who mimics her expression. They’re both looking at me with pity, and I hate it. “We don’t care about that, Jasper. You’re family.” Kelly takes my hand in hers, and my throat feels clogged. A strange burning starts in my eyes, and I refuse to cry.
I won’t do it. Sometimes life isn’t fair.
I know that.
It’s fine. I’m fine.
“I’ll see you all tomorrow morning,” I say and then gently take my hand from Kelly’s and climb into my truck.
I don’t want to give them any more time to talk. I don’t want to talk about it. About any of it.
None of it matters anyway.
It’s not like I can change a damn thing.
SEVEN
Okay, I think I broke the country boy.
I wasn’t even trying to. I was bored after work last night, and Kelly asked Millie to take me to the bowling alley. Which—I thought was a joke at first—but turns out, that’s really how people in Kensley entertain themselves.
Weird as hell. But like I said, I was bored.
So I tagged along. And then Millie introduced me to her best friend, Lucy. Who yeah—she’s beautiful. No doubt about it. In a sweet, country, small-town sort of way. I’ve never seen anyone like her up close.
But I wasn’t really all that interested until I noticed how locked-in Jasper was on our conversation. The guy couldn’t have been more obvious. She was his. And I wanted to make it sting.
He’s been trying to torture me all week. Bossing me around nonstop. Giving me all the shit jobs—mostly literally. I wanted a little payback.
So I flirted. It was over-the-top and far too easy. Something I’ve always been able to turn on and off is charm. I have it in spades, and I use it when necessary. Poor Lucy didn’t stand a chance.
