Page 100 of Triplet Babies for my Ex's Best Friend

“Hey,” he says. “Relax.”

“I'm relaxed,” I say, which is a blatant lie. “Let go of me.”

“Take your hand off her.”

A voice cuts through everything. It’s calm, controlled, cold in a way that isn't negotiable.

The guy freezes.

I do too, because I know that voice.

I turn.

Ethan is walking toward us, one hand loosely holding Captain’s leash, the other gripping his phone, Oliver’s monitor glowing faintly in his palm. Captain is half a step ahead of him, already keyed in, body alert in a way I’ve never seen before.

Ethan’s gaze is locked on the man holding my wrist.

“Now,” Ethan says.

Captain lets out a low, warning huff, and the guy lets go immediately, as if his hand burned.

I step back instantly, putting distance between us. My heart's still racing, adrenaline flooding my system so fast it makes me slightly dizzy.

Captain moves without being told, placing himself slightly in front of me, tail still, body angled like he’s very seriously considering all his life choices that led to this moment.

Ethan doesn’t look at me.

He stops a few feet away, attention still fixed on the guy.

“You’re done here,” he says.

The guy lifts his hands slightly, defensive. “I was just?—”

“I don’t care what you were just doing,” Ethan cuts in. “You followed her. You put your hands on her. That ends now.”

There’s no room for argument in his voice.

The guy hesitates, then, clearly deciding this isn't a situation he wants to escalate, he backs off.

“Whatever, man,” he mutters, already turning away.

Ethan watches him go. Doesn’t move until he’s far enough down the street to be irrelevant. Then turns to lock eyes with me. “Are you hurt?”

I shake my head, still trying to catch my breath. “No. I’m… I’m okay.”

Captain immediately takes that as his cue to check me himself, nudging my leg, then my hand, like he’s conducting a full assessment.

“Hi,” I whisper to him, because that’s the most coherent thing I can manage right now. “Yes. Hello. Thank you for your service.”

He wags once.

Ethan’s gaze flicks briefly to my wrist, checking. Then back to my face. “Did he?—”

“No,” I say quickly. “He just grabbed me. I told him to stop.”

A muscle in his jaw tightens. “I’m sorry,”

That surprises me. “You didn’t do anything.”