“You’re insane,” he said, his face twisting, red and furious.
“And you’re boring.” I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “So let’s call it even.”
He shook his head, wiping at the alcohol dripping down his arms. “I’ve never made such a good decision in my life. We’re done, Evie.”
“Right.” I smiled, too sweet. “Don’t call me tomorrow when you regret it.”
His eyes flashed and he snarled, like he was about to say something truly awful, but one glance at Aiden standing next to me and his mouth snapped shut.
I didn’t even have time to attempt setting him on fire again before he stormed off.
I should’ve felt relief. Instead, something bitter crawled up my throat.
Aiden turned back to me, jaw locked. The glow from the neon lights carved shadows over his face, making him look lethal in his anger.
“What the hell were you thinking?”
I lifted my chin. “That he deserved it? And for the record, I wasn’t actually going to set him on fire... probably.”
“Probably?” Aiden repeated, his voice incredulous. “Fuck, Evie. Do you haveanyself-preservation instincts?”
“Not really, no.”
He raked a hand through his hair, shaking his head. “Let’s go. I’m taking you home.”
“No, you’re not,” I said, planting my feet. “I’m fine. Go back to your cute little game.”
“You’re not fine.” His voice was firm. “You tried to light someone on fire.”
“And he deserved it.”
“Maybe he did,” Aiden said, his tone shifting to something darker. “But you’re not staying here.”
Before I could argue, the girl Aiden had been playing pool with came over, her gaze flicking between us. “Aiden,” she said, her voice soft. “Are you coming back?”
“No.” There was no hesitation in his voice. “I mean, I don’t know. I have to take Evie home.”
The words sent a strange rush of satisfaction through me, but I shoved it down. I wasn’t going to read into this. Not tonight.
“Maybe you should stay here with your date and mind your own business,” I said, pushing off from the bar to head outside. I needed to get out of this suffocating room. I needed to be alone where my shame of being broken up with in front of hundreds of people wouldn’t sting so badly.
I made it outside to the line of bikes before Aiden caught up to me.
“I’m not minding my own business when your date is assaulting you,” he said, coming to my side.
“I don’t need a babysitter or a bodyguard. I can handle myself.”
“Oh, yeah. You were doing ahellof a job. Why are you mad at me when he’s the one who hurt you?”
I spun, my fists balling at my sides. I hated when Aiden made sense. I wasn’t mad he came to help me. I could appreciate that about him. But he didn’t rescue me because he cared—he did it because Rook would be pissed if he didn’t.
There were so many things I loved about Aiden, but his loyalty to my brother wasn’t always one of them.
“Because I don’t need you or my brother treating me like I’m helpless. Maybe I felt a bit helpless when I was younger, but I’m fine now. I can handle one asshole breaking up with me.”
“He seriously broke up with you?”
“Yeah, because of you, apparently.”
