He nodded, his face wrinkling with concern. Why were all of his facial expressions so sexy? I pretended I was peering off into the club, but I was really trying to listen to the conversation taking place next to us.
“Come on, baby,” the douche said. “We’ll have a good time.”
“No, thank you.” The pretty girl looked as though she were praying for the floor to swallow her whole. “I want to leave with my friends.”
He pushed his way into her space even more. “They can come too.”
Pretty girl looked to be a little tipsy, but she also looked uncomfortable as hell. “I don’t think so. I had fun, but we’re just going to go home.”
“So, why have I been buying you and your little friends drinks all night? You need to come home with me. It’s the nice thing to do. Your friends will understand.”
The girl looked like she was ready to cry. “I really just want to go home.” The guy opened his mouth to say something, but I was faster on the trigger.
“She saidno,” I stated firmly. “You need to back off.”
“Who the fuck are you?” The douche turned his attention toward me. “Her mother?”
Cash zeroed in on him. “Watch your mouth.”
“I’ll be whoever the fuck I need to be to get you to go away,” I countered, looking up at him. He had at least a foot on me and probably a good hundred pounds, but I didn’t care.
“Mind your business, old lady. This conversation has nothing to do with you.” He puffed out his chest in what I assumed was an effort to scare me.
“I’m gonna need you to take a step back, young man.” Cash took a protective stride toward me, holding his hand out toward the jerkface to prevent him from advancing any further.
“Okay, gramps.” The guy rolled his eyes. “Are y’all out on a field trip from the old folks’ home?”
Cash started to say something again, but I placed my hand on his chest, stopping him.
“It’s okay. I’ve got this,” I said to Cash before turning my attention to the pretty girl. “Hi, sweetie. Do you want to go home with this man?”
She shook her head vehemently.
“Would you like any further contact with this absolute dumpster fire of a human?” I asked.
“No ma’am,” she answered.
I placed a protective arm around her. “What’s your name, sweetheart?”
“Brooke,” she replied.
“I’m Ella, and this is Cash.” I gestured to where Cash stood with his arms crossed, staring the guy down. “And we’re going to make sure you find your friends and get out of here safely.”
“Thank you so much.” Brooke looked up at me with gratitude.
“I don’t know who the fuck you think you are, you old ass bitch.” The douchebag stepped toward Brooke and reached for her arm, but I pushed my way between them, poking my finger in his chest.
“Listen here,Chad.” I plastered a smile on my face. “Is that your name? Because you look like a Chad. Myold ass,as you so eloquently put it, is your worst fucking nightmare. Because I’m not her mom, but I amamom, and that means I know what pain feels like. Have you ever pushed a seven-and-a-half pound human out of your vagina with no painkillers? No? Cool. Well, let me tell you why that’s important information foryou. It means I’m not scared ofanything, least of all a little pissant likeyou. So, I’m going to give you a tip for free-ninety-nine. Go home, Chad. Unless you want me to inflict some vagina-ripping pain on you.”
Chad’s nostrils flared, and for a moment, I thought he might actually hit me. “Fuck both you bitches.” With that, he turned on his heel and disappeared into the crowd.
“Brooke, we’ve been looking all over for you,” a girl with long black hair shouted, gripping Brooke by the arm. “Lacey even went to one of the bars next door because she thought maybe that weird guy convinced you to go.”
“Thank God. No, that guy was a total psycho.” Brooke flung her arms around her friend before turning back to me and giving me a hug. “Thank you, Ella.”
“Don’t mention it, sweetie.” I smiled. “Do you girls need anything? Do you want me to call you an Uber?”
“We’re okay,” she said. “Our other friend drove.”
