Quinn’s sharp intake of breath at my side made me tense. “Georgette.” The word was little more than a vicious growl of warning. I honestly didn’t think Quinn had that kind of anger in her. Didn’t think she was capable of it.
And while I hated people feeling the need to defend or protect me, not gonna lie, it made a flicker of desire spark in me at her protectiveness. But in the end, the anger thrumming to life in my veins drowned out whatever need I felt for Quinn.
Maybe I shouldn’t have drank so much. Whiskey was great when I was in a good mood, but things had the potential to go south real quick when my mood turned dark.
A bitter chuckle escaped me, my tone dripping with sarcasm as I replied, “Wow, you know, I never thought of it that way before.”
“Maybe we should uh, change the subject, eh?” Carl’s tone rang with false cheerfulness. But it seemed his fire-breathing bitch of a fiancé didn’t like being told what to do.
“There has to be a cure, isn’t there? I mean, I know this holistic doctor that works wonders. I could get you into contact with him.” Her words were sincere and ignorant, and it made my blood boil all the hotter. God she reallywasthat stupid.
I rolled my eyes, not even trying to hide my laughter. This woman had to be fucking with me. Well, two could play that game. Taking another swig from the bottle, I said, “Well, I’m afraid to tell you, Miss Georgette, but I’ve tried all the crystals and essential oils I can get my hands on and it still ain’t helped.”
A wave of silence settled over us, and for a long moment I could only hear the cicadas in the trees and the water from the pool trickling on the wind. Quinn’s tense grip on mine was like a life preserver in the storm of rage I felt growing more and more violently in my chest.
“Well, you know what they say—” Georgette’s words were nice enough on the surface, but they dripped with sugary-sweet venom. “Everything happens for a reason. God must not have wanted you to be a bull rider. It just wasn’t your purpose.”
Rage pummeled into me, so white-hot and intense that the black in my nonexistent vision all but turned red. I nearly threw the damn bottle of whiskey to the ground. But that would be a waste of alcohol. And this dumb bitch didn’t deserve my anger.
I shot up from the couch, releasing Quinn’s hand. “Thank you for the whiskey, Mr. Decker, sir.” I turned toward Quinn. “Thank you for inviting me, but I’m gonna go.” I didn’t bother to wait for a response or even acknowledge Georgette. She could rot in hell.
I tried to remember the path Quinn had led me on out here and took a long swig before I made my way toward the house, the whiskey not even burning anymore as it went down.
I was in dangerous territory now.
Oh well, fuck it.
Chapter seventeen
Wind Up Missin’ You
Quinn
My emotions writhed andclawed their way up my throat—anger so boiling hot and potent that if I let it out I was terrified of what would happen. But also guilt and fear. Guilt because I’m sure Hux thought to some extent I was just as bad as Georgette—guilty by association, right? And then fear, because even though he’d silently reassured me by grabbing my hand, now he was leaving.
How could Georgette have said something so horrible? Better yet, how could Dad be with someone so horrible?
I stood up after Hux, trying to decide what to do. Help him get out and apologize profusely, or go off on Georgette for her inexcusable behavior.
I glared at her from across the way, sipping the last remnants of her mojito like she hadn’t just insulted Hux. And maybe it wasthe ignorant smile she aimed my way, but I couldn’t keep my mouth shut any longer.
“I can’t even believe that you could say something so hateful and harmful. You should be absolutely ashamed of yourself.” My voice quaked, and it felt damn near impossible to get the words out. I hated confrontation. I hated starting it even more, butsomethingneeded to be said. I fixed my gaze on my dad. “I—” My words fell away, tears burning in my eyes. I didn’t even know what to say.
I was so far past disappointment I didn’t even know what emotion came next. So, I just shook my head and hurried for the back door Hux had just disappeared into. But not before my dad’s familiar voice echoed across the backyard. “Georgette, what the hell? That was out of line.”
I ignored her excuses. A blast of cool air and a string of angry, slurred curses greeted me as I walked into the house. Hux loomed a few feet in front of me, righting a chair I assume he ran into.
“Fuck,” he grumbled out, taking another swig of whiskey.
“Here,” I said softly, coming up to his side and reaching out a tentative hand. “Let me help you.”
He growled. Legit growled at me, but with an annoyed shrug he let me lead him through the house and out onto the front porch. I couldn’t even begin to possibly imagine how he felt. He’d been insulted time and time again by some dumb, ignorant bimbo who literally knew nothing about his condition or predicament.
Biting back tears, I whispered, “I’m so sorry, Hux.”
His body trembled beneath me like a mini earthquake—from rage or whatever emotions going through him, I could only guess. I honestly probably wouldn’t ever truly know. Hux didn’t seem like the type to talk about his fears and frustrations.
“It’s okay, Quinn,” he said tiredly. So tired it made my heart hurt.
