AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m cutting in.” I make it clear that I’m not asking.
Their staggered motion stops immediately as the guy turns to look at me over his shoulder, but he doesn’t let her go.
“Sorry, she’s with me the rest of the night.” He turns back to face Andie as if that’s the end of the conversation.
“If you want to remain standing, let me go. Now.” Andie tries to pull away again.
“Who is this, Andie?” he asks, in a territorial tone that I don’t care for.
“Her date,” I say before she responds, or I can stop myself. I don’t like this guy's attitude, his roughness with Andie, or his face.
I see the shock on her face and then his, but she recovers quickly, taking advantage of catching him off guard to yank away and move to stand next to me.
He doesn’t hide his displeasure. “Seriously, Andie. You’re dating…” He takes a second to inspect me. “You’re Sean Greyson.” He states rather than asks. I don’t respond.
His dark eyes move back to Andie. “You’re finally ready to date, and you’re dating a football player.” He half scoffs, half laughs. “This figures. First, a soldier, and now this guy. What a joke!”
I see Andie physically pull herself up.This guy is a chauvinistic dick. I don’t like how he speaks to her or the hurtful things he just said. I’m not sure where he gets his entitlement, but he’s way too close to Andie. I slip my hand around her waist and pull her into me.
“Brice, the only joke here is you and maybe anyone who believes you are anything other than a pathetic excuse for a human being. Stay away from me. And if you ever talk about Josh or–”
Not letting her be in this asshole’s presence one second longer, I pull her away from him, turning her into me instead. She comes along willingly as I lead her to the middle of the floor and far away from him.
We sway for a minute, my hand on her waist, the other locked with hers. She avoids looking at me, her anger having morphed into either embarrassment or shame, and it makes me want to haul that skinny dick’s ass outside.
I break the silence and hopefully her negative thoughts. “You killed it up there tonight.”
“Thanks.” Her quiet response is uncharacteristic. “I’m glad it's over.”
“The new song was…” I search for the right word. “Moving. It was beautiful.”
She finally looks at me, her eyes flicking between mine for a moment. “Thanks for earlier and then now, with Brice. He’s anentitled jerk and has never quite gotten the clue that Gem has no problem being my alibi if he disappears.”
“He’s worse than a jerk.”
Her pink lips turn upward just slightly. “I’m sorry you were dragged into all of that. My parents and then him.” Her eyes fall to my chest before bouncing back up. “What are you doing here, anyway? I would’ve never guessed this would be your scene.”
“It’s not…or at least it wasn’t. I’m trying something new.”
She nods like she’s thinking about it as she surveys the couples around us. “We probably shouldn’t be dancing or standing this close. People might think we’re actually dating, which would not be good for your reputation or girlfriend.”
“I don’t have a girlfriend,” I correct quickly. “And my reputation could use some tweaking.”
Her head falls to the side, her eyebrows pinching inward. “I met her at the game, in the owner's box. I can’t remember her name, but…”
“Morgan. Yeah, I’m not sure why she was there. We broke up weeks before that.”
Her brows move upward this time. “Apparently, she didn’t get the memo because she clearly thought she was.”
“She didn’t take it well. I should’ve broken it off a long time ago.”
The song ends, and we stop moving. Andie’s eyes dart around the room before meeting mine again. “I’m going to grab my guitar and get out of here. Thank you for–”
I cut her off. “Let’s go get it, and I’ll walk you out. I wouldn’t feel right leaving you here if that guy is still loitering.”
She ponders it and doesn’t argue.
I follow her off the dancefloor and through a door that takes us backstage. After she gathers her things, we exit a side door and into the parking lot.
