Page 18 of Hash

Much to my shock, Owen and Prez wander off, leaving me standing awkwardly alone with Emily.

“Promise not to try anything,” I tell her unexpectedly, sounding like an asshole. As much as I probably need to get my mind and dick off Aisling, I can’t. Trying to lighten the mood, I joke, “Unless that’s what you want.”

“Depends,” she answers. Is she trying to flirt with me? “On just what you’re thinking⁠—”

I smirk down at her, ready to give her a bullshit line when a man saddles up behind her, placing his hand on her lower back.

A move that tells me to back off.

“Hey, Em…” the man says, as he takes me in, trying to see if I’m a threat to him and whatever Emily has going on or not. “Sorry to interrupt,” he continues, his eyes not leaving me. Don’t worry, buddy. I’m not going to stick my dick where yours has been. “Libby is looking for the stopwatches. She thought you’d know where they are?”

My eyes dance between them, amused that this is going down, and she seems completely oblivious to it.

“Yes, let me go get that.” Emily turns to me as she waves. “Nice to meet you. I’ll see you at the hay field at one for the demo.”

“Later, babe.”

It’s hot as fuck out here.

I don’t know whose idea it was to have this demo outside in the Georgia heat, but fuck them. I can feel the sweat dripping off of my balls as Jace drones on with his speech about personal safety.

I take a step to the left, trying to get my left nut unstuck from my leg without being obvious about it.

“Oh yes, right there!” Emily whispers as she nudges me. “Just a little more to the left. Yes, riiiight there. Yes!”

Jesus.

She sounds like I’m building it, but I haven’t even touched her. My eyes scan the crowd for the man who laid his silent claim earlier but come up empty.

“If that’s all it takes, can’t wait to see your reaction once I actually touch you.”

“You have to catch me first,” she responds, quick with it.

My gravelly laugh coming out louder than intended, making Owen look over at us in confusion as Jace continues his spiel.

“So today, with the help of my volunteers, Emily and Hash, we’re going to run through self-defense 101. All of these are very basic techniques, things that every person should know to help keep themselves safe and aware. None of what we will cover today will require any additional accessories. However, if you want to check out our assortment of devices or talk to any one of us more in-depth about our trainings, please stop by the Hayes booth.” Jace gestures over his shoulder toward the large tent set up adjacent to the stage. “Everyone ready?”

The crowd goes wild, anxiously waiting for our performance. Let’s hope I don’t embarrass the hell out of myself. My brothers will never let me live it down. I can see Cyrus smirking in the crowd, waiting for me to fuck up.

“Hash, Emily?” Jace continues.

I nod, my take-no-bullshit expression back in place. I tip the corner of my lip up slightly at Emily, reassuring her because I know this is a lot with having an audience and all.

Emily claps as she does a little dance and takes a step back. What happens next is beyond me. One second she was getting in position, and the next she’s on the edge of the stage about to fall off.

On reflex, I reach out trying to grab her, but I don’t fully make it in time. Her skin is slick with sweat from the hot as balls sun beating down on us, not letting me get a good grip on her wrist, causing it to slip right through. Emily hits the ground with a hard thud. The crowd gasps loudly as Owen and I yell her name.

“Are you okay?” Jace asks, concern written on his face.

“I didn’t do it. She tripped.” I need to make it known that none of this was me. I don’t need anyone accusing me of shit, especially when one of them is a fucking cop.

“He’s not wrong. That was all me,” Emily says as she opens her eyes.

“Make a hole!” The man who laid a silent claim on Emily pushes through the crowd. I step aside as something in the direction he came from catches my eye.

Cherry cola hair that I would recognize anywhere.

He’s checking on Emily. I faintly register him asking her questions, but it’s all background. All I can focus on is the woman walking away from the chaos, walking away from me.