Good.
I couldn’t survive being interrupted right then.
“I’m taking him to Hockey House,” I said. “He needs ice, a shower, and probably someone to make sure his hand isn’t broken. I can handle that.”
Easton’s mouth twitched, but it looked more like pain than amusement. “You can?”
I shot him a look. “You want to test me in front of witnesses?”
His gaze held mine.
He looked wrecked. Bruised and bloodied, his mouth split, knuckles raw, shirt still damp from the rain, and every inchof him vibrating with the kind of violence that hadn’t burned out just because Maddox remained on the pavement outside.
Nothing about him looked soft. Nothing about him looked healed.
That was what made my stomach twist.
Easton didn’t look at me like he needed me. He looked at me like he finally understood enough to hate the right people, and I didn’t know what to do with that. For all this time, that hate had been mine. Every cold stare, every girl, every vicious comment, and every brutal little reminder that I wasn’t welcome near him anymore had been aimed directly at my chest.
Tonight, it had turned.
I could still feel it coming off him, hot, savage, and barely leashed, but for once, I wasn’t the thing he wanted to destroy with it.
I was the thing standing behind it.
And somehow, that was worse.
I knew Easton angry. I knew Easton cruel. I knew Easton with his pride bleeding and his mouth sharpened around every word he wanted to hurt me with.
I did not know what to do with Easton Wade looking at the rest of the world like it had touched something that belonged to him.
Briggs threw his hands out. “I’m all for whatever intense eye-contact contract just happened, but can someone acknowledge he might need medical attention?”
“I’ll look at his injuries,” I said.
“You’re pre-law.”
“And bossy. Between the two, I’ll figure it out.”
Rider glanced at Easton. “You sure?”
Easton didn’t look away from me. “Yeah.”
Briggs stared at him. “That was far too easy for a man with your control issues.”
Easton finally looked toward him. “Let us sort this shit out.”
Briggs closed his mouth.
Rider nodded once. “Fine.”
Cade didn’t look happy, but his arm tightened around Bliss before he said, “Text when you get there.”
“I will.”
Bliss looked at me like she wanted to hug me and knew better than to try. “I love you.”
My throat tightened. “I love you too.”
