Page 51 of Forced Proximity

How is she so calm? I know what I saw. Conner did something to make Doc react like that, and my pulse thuds in my ears. I refuse to blink. If Conner makes even the slightest move, one single step, I’ll pounce.

White and red stripes line Conner’s neck as he shoots Doc a death stare. ‘Fuck you.’

‘What did you just say?’ I grit my teeth so hard I’m going to shatter a molar. ‘Disrespecting her you motherfu—’

‘Why you mad at me, brother?’ Conner snaps, taking a step back. His red eyes narrow. ‘She was all over me, and got pissed when I told her no.’

‘Enough.’ Doc’s forearm flexes against me, her other arm bent toward Conner, like she’s ready to strike. ‘Conner, leave. Do not make this hard—’

‘She was all over you? Fucking liar.’

‘You’ve seen how she is around me.’ A smirk passes on Conner. ‘You’re so goddamn naive, letting her play with you like this. She literally stormed off the dance floor when you tried to dance with her. You let everyone manipulate you. Come on, man, you’ve got to be smarter than this.’

‘Guys, please, stop. Let’s cool off,’ Doc says, but I barely register the words.

The alley blurs. Naive. Manipulated. My face burns. ‘Everything you say is a lie. Why are you even in my life? Nothing good comes from being around you.’

Conner’s mouth drops. ‘Nothing good? I was the one who had your back at the fight in San Diego. Remember?’ His voice rises. ‘Who stayed in the hospital with you when you got your concussion? That was me, too. I flew to Nashville for your grandma’s funeral. I’ve done so much shit for you, you ungrateful asshole.’

None of it matters. He hurt Doc. ‘We’re done.’

Doc shifts her hips and swings her focus to Conner. ‘Go stand by the taxis.’

‘You seriously gonna let a chick come between us?’ Conner releases his fighting stance and crosses his arms. ‘We’ve been friends for fourteen years. You’re not doing this.’

I exhale a shaky breath through my nose. ‘You did this. Not me. You.’

‘I can’t believe you’re choosing her over me.’ Conner drops his arms and looks between Doc and me. ‘Why do you even care? She’s nothin’ but the help.’

Red! I break free of Doc’s grip and my fist makes direct contact on Conner’s jaw. Stumbled feet, hot angry breaths, grunts and elbows and fists scatter the air. I plow into him, tackling him to the pavement. Yanks and twists battle gravity. Powerful arms grip my chest from behind and yank me off Conner like I weigh nothing. I blink into the night, my head clouded. Doc? Conner scrambles upright. I leap to my feet, and he lunges, fists aimed. Doc sweeps Conner’s legs. He hits the ground with a thud, and she pins his arms behind his back.

‘We don’t want to do this, all right? Relax!’ Her voice booms, the red dress stretched tight against her legs, the black shorts underneath peeking out. Conner thrusts and kicks, but when Doc pushes into his shoulder blade, he yelps in pain.

‘Justin! Doc.’ Jacks voice booms behind me. He grips me by the scruff of my shirt and tugs me away. ‘Jesus Christ, we good here?’

‘We’re good, Jack,’ Doc says, her chest heaving as her knee pushes into Conner. ‘Get Justin out of here. Call the car, then call the club security to take care of Conner.’

I drag my hands down my face, my breath shaky, my pulse slamming into my chest. ‘Doc—’

‘Not a fucking word,’ she says through tight teeth, her jaw looking like it’s popping a muscle.

Shit. She is pissed.

‘Jack,’ she commands, jutting her head at me.

He nods, pulls out his cell, then tugs me to the side. ‘Justin. We need to leave immediately.’

Absolutely not. Adrenaline and anger course through my veins, my breath releases in heavy spurts. What if Conner gets up, tries something, hurts her? ‘I’m not leaving.’

Jack stiffens his back. ‘This is not negotiable. Doc has things under control,’ he says, catching my gaze with a stern scowl. ‘You are now more of a threat to Doc than Conner.’

‘What?’ How is that even possible? Everything blurs. Doc is glaring at me with so much venom I’m going to be sick. Jack is as stern as I’ve ever seen him, which is saying a lot, and Conner is calm on the ground. The SUV rolls up to the side. I look at the vehicle then back at Doc.

‘Leave!’ Doc damn near growls.

Fuck. I follow Jack into the car, my mouth hot and sticky, my heartbeat railing against my chest. As I slump into the seat, beads of sticky sweat prickle at my neck and I can’t breathe.

What have I done?