Page 37 of Hope and Country

With my elbows propped on the bar counter, I watched the guy who could easily steal my heart prep drinks. Every time he walked my way, he leaned over the counter to place a kiss on my lips.

If this was what love looked like, I could get used to the idea.

Anthony winked at me, and my insides melted in bursts of glitter.

“Dev, I’ve been thinking. I don’t want us to be casual anymore.” Fireworks erupted inside me. “Would you be—”

A loud cry left my mouth. A strong hand pulled my hair and dragged me away from the bar, my toes barely touching the floor. What the hell!

My eyes met Anthony’s, and in one swift stride, he rounded the bar and came running in my direction.

“Let her go, man,” I heard him through the noisy crowd as he hurried after me. “Or I’m calling the cops.”

The chilly voice acted like a deadly blizzard around my heart.

“I’m the fucking cops.” Robbie?

Why was Robbie manhandling me like this? And how did he know I was here? I did my best to be low-key all night.

“Robbie, let go of me. You’re hurting me. I’m staying here.”

As if he got electrocuted, he flipped on his heels and slapped me in the face.

“Don’t you fucking argue with me in front of people.”

Stunned, I didn’t react.

Alarms blasted inside my head.

Run, they said. But I didn’t, trying to comprehend what was going on.

When Anthony reached us, Robbie had already pushed me inside his car, his tires screeching in the dark night as he pulled away from the no-parking space in front of the bar.

My palm rested on my throbbing cheek. My eyes watered. Why did Robbie think hitting me was okay? He saw for years what it did to my mom. Didn’t he know better?

“Fucking Jensen called me. Again. Saw you with your boy toy exchanging saliva for hours. He made fun of me, Devon. He said I had no control over my sister and that I should put a leash on ya. I was having a poker game, and the guys roasted me. They nagged at me. Said I was too fucking soft. Asked me if I had balls. All because of ya.”

He tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his knuckles white, and glanced at me with bloodshot eyes.

“Are you drunk?” I asked.

“Not your fucking business. You ruined my night. Now all I’ll hear from the guys is how my sister is a slut. They thought I should give you a lesson. So here I am.”

I froze in my seat.

I’d never seen Robbie this upset before.

The whole thing was ridiculous.

We entered my apartment in silence, and Robbie kicked the door shut. I could feel his fury all over the place. Before I could go too far, he pushed me against the wall. Hard. The back of my skull screamed in pain. And I could still feel the stinging sensation of his palm on my cheek.

“You won’t act like a brainless child ever again, Devon. I don’t have a choice. You won’t listen.” He ripped my sheer mesh blouse with one hand, almost ruining the black lace tank top under, the other holding my head so our eyes leveled. My breathing hitched. There was no humor in his deadly stare. I swallowed, unable to speak my mind. “Why do you think humiliating me is the only way to go? Do you forget I have eyes all over town? We’re always watching ya. Your days of acting like a deaf-eared spoiled brat are over. From now on, I’m the boss of you.”

He let go of me and stepped away.

Anger boiled inside me. I wouldn’t let him belittle me. Fuck that.

“You’re mad because I’m seeing someone? Someone great. I’m an adult. You don’t have a say in my life anymore. You got married, for heaven’s sake.”