“Your opinion doesn’t even fucking register to me. And if you don’t move that hand off him, you’re going to lose your fingers.”
“Who do you think you’re talking to?” the woman snapped.
“I’m talking to the woman who doesn’t know how to buy full-size shirts. Hands the fuck off him.Now.”
Lisa wasn’t a person who shamed women; she was a sister to all women and would defend a woman’s choices with her last breath, but her limit was fucking reached, so she didn’t feel guilt over being nasty.
Splice shook his arm and directed a look at the woman, who reluctantly let go of him.
“Babe.”
Her heartstrings twanged.
Lisa pressed her teeth together. Holding back what she really wanted to say. “Don’t babe me.”
He half-smiled. “Feisty. I get that we had some history between us, yeah?”
History? They were in the present only days ago.
“I don’t remember the last two years, so whatever fling we were having this time, it’s not in here.” He tapped his temple. “Do you get that? It was probably short-lived; you need to accept it.”
Ryan didn’t even sound like himself. He had none of his deep, sweet tone he used when talking to her. Lisa had to swallow her emotions before she embarrassed herself and bawled her eyes out right there.
“Un-fucking-believable,” muttered Nina from behind her. Tomb must have come in from the garage because, without turning around, Lisa heard him: “Pipe down, princess, it’s between them.”
“Between them? He’s doing this crap in public. He’s hurting her in public!”
“It’s fine, Nina.” She said, gesturing to her friend with a hand, then turned back to Ryan and pointed a finger. She’d had enough of this shit. “You, slut-puppy, get up.” She held out her hand and dared him to refuse it.
The silence went on; it seemed everyone had shut their mouths to listen in on the show she was putting on.
Time ticked by.
She didn’t look away from him.
And Ryan had his head cocked to the side, watching her back.
Then he smiled and took her hand, climbing to his feet. “Looks like I’ve gotta havethetalk with my so-called girlfriend because she doesn’t get the message. Someone, pour me a drink; this won’t take long. Then we can take off, Vince.”
Vince nodded but gave Lisa a sympathetic glance.
Ryan’s hand enfolded around hers, and he took off walking first, forcing her to follow with quicker steps to keep up.
Wherever they were going, she decided she was going to knock his cocky head right off his shoulders once they got there.
She’d regret hitting the love of her life, but if it knocked some sense into that thick head of his and brought her Ryan back, she’d sacrifice and do it.
She’d do it so many times, he’d be bruised from forehead to toenails.
So, when Ryan turned a corner and opened a door, her inner kettle was at the boiling point, her free hand clenched at her side as she followed him inside.
Nothing could have prepared her.
Not even given a clue what was about to happen, Lisa swung around when Ryan closed the door, and she was ready to give him both barrels when she found her waist lassoed in his two hands and forcibly dragged forward into his arms.
Squashed into Ryan’s chest, Lisa stiffened, confused.
Her gears were cranked all the way to the limit, and she’d been ready to fight for her life, no matter what she had to say or do.
