“I’m fine, thanks. You can leave now.”
He planted both palms on the counter and leaned over. “So you’re all healed up to go out tonight? Or we can order to your house.”
“Ew, no.”What the fuck was wrong with him?
“Come on,” he drawled. “You must be so bored without me. It will be like old times.”
“That is exactly why I said no.”
Andrew reached over to grab my wrist, but I stepped back, dragging him halfway over the counter. He knocked the snack packets off the stand, and they toppled to the ground.
“Get off me,” I hissed through gritted teeth.
“Is this man bothering you?” Rowan’s voice was a balm to my soul. He appeared next to Andrew, towering over him. For the first time, I understood why people were afraid of Rowan. His height and build were a significant advantage in any scaring technique, but it was the dark, menacing expression on his face that would send anyone smart scurrying away.
Andrew straightened his clothes and scowled, meeting Rowan’s chest. He looked up and stumbled back.
“I was reconnecting with an old flame.” He put on an innocent expression that Rowan was not buying.
“Oh, cut the crap, Andrew.” I rolled my eyes and turned to Rowan. “He was just leaving.”
“I’ll be back.” He pointed a finger at me.
I grimaced. “Don’t.”
“Or you could come with me now. No one cares about this place, anyway.” Andrew rounded the counter and reached out for me, then stopped with shock in his gaze.
Rowan was holding him by the back of his collar like a naughty kitten. “Milo asked you to leave. Consider listening to him.”
Andrew grunted, attempting to wiggle out of the grasp to no avail. “Oh, so you’ve got yourself a bodyguard? Are you that afraid of me, Milo?”
“No. But I think you’re a piece of shit and I don’t want to see your ugly face here. So go.”
“I’m not ugly! Wait—” He craned his neck to look at Rowan’s then snorted. “Is that what you’re fucking now?” He indicated Rowan with his thumb. “A monster? How could you stoop so low after having me? Are you depressed again?”
“That’s enough.” Rowan marched Andrew by the collar.
“Let go of me, you freak.” He flailed his arms like a cartoon villain caught in a trap.
“Okay.” Rowan sent Andrew stumbling to the pavement outside the cafe. “Don’t show your face here again, or even your mom won’t be able to call it pretty anymore.”
“Is that a threat?” Andrew squeaked.
“No,” Rowan said calmly. “It’s a promise.”
Rowan returned inside and held his hands up as if I would be afraid of him now. “Are you okay?”
I huffed. “You can’t say shit like that.”
“What did I do?” He seemed genuinely confused.
“You basically told him that you’ll be here next time he comes. You won’t.” I poked his chest with a finger. “I’ve dealt with him before, and I can handle him again when I have to.”
“I just—”
“Yeah, you were a hero for a minute there, but then I’ll be facing the consequences. Alone. I don’t need your macho bullshit.”
“I’m sorry.” Rowan grimaced, visibly deflating.
