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He exerted some strength and pushed me off of him, my shoulder landing on the ground, a grunt of discomfort leaving me before I could stop it. We both stood, our chests rising and falling, blood dripping down the cut in his cheek and along his jawline.
The flavor of copper still filled my mouth. I turned my head and spit out a mouthful of saliva and blood, ready to go round two, ready to put him in his fucking place.
“This all over some piece of ass?” He grinned again, his teeth stained pink from the blood. “I’m more than willing to share, especially when it’s a hot fucking piece of ass like Stella.”
I growled out and charged forward, using my shoulder to push him back until we were up against a truck, the vehicle stopping us from going any further. He grunted out from the impact and had his arms wrapped around me, trying to get out of my hold.
I kept slamming my fist into his side, the sounds of him roaring out in pain filling my ears.
All I could picture was Stella, her shocked expression when he spoke to her, the things this asshole would’ve probably done to her if no one was looking. I knew this type of guy, an asshole who was used to getting what he wanted, and if he didn’t, he just took it.
I saw red, a blood red rage filling me and becoming my driving force. Stella was mine, and I’d do anything to protect her.
After long seconds, I forced myself to lean back and stare into his face. The motherfucker was still grinning. I reared my arm back, and as I slammed my hand into his nose, I was faintly aware of the sound of bone crunching, could see the river of red dripping from his nostrils to cover his mouth and chin, splattering against his already stained white T-shirt.
He howled in pain, covering his nose before letting his body sink to the floor. I took several steps back, still having that hazy red shade of anger covering my vision. I was clenching and releasing my fingers into tight fists at my sides, my chest rising and falling, the air sawing in and out of my lungs.
“Don’t look, talk, or even fucking think about Stella. If you do, I’ll come back and finish this.” I looked him right in the eye, his body slouched against the truck now, his hand covering his nose. “I mean it, motherfucker. You look at her and I’ll break your fucking legs.”
I turned my head again and spit a mouthful of blood, my heart racing, sweat covering my body. I didn’t give him another glance as I turned and headed to my car, got in the driver’s seat, and cranked the engine over.
I left the parking lot and headed home, but really where I wanted to go was right to Stella.
11
Stella
“You’ve been so quiet lately.”
I looked up and stared across the table at my mom. She brought a fork full of salad to her mouth, the green leaves stuck to the prongs. She smiled, and I knew she wanted to have the type of relationship where we were not just mother and daughter, but best friends.
As close to my mother as I was, how I knew I could talk to her about anything, this was about Cannon.
But I couldn’t talk to her about Cannon. I couldn’t talk to anyone, not because I was ashamed, but because I was afraid someone would tell me that it was a bad idea, that he and I could never be together.
“Just thinking, I guess.” I shrugged.
“Are you doing anything fun with your friends for your birthday?”
I shook my head and started eating. “No, nothing planned.” She didn’t know that I didn’t really have friends, that Cannon was it for me.
Truth was, I just wanted to spend time with Cannon. But how did I bring that up? How did I tell him any of this?
“I wish I could afford to throw you a huge eighteenth birthday party.”
I heard the disappointment in my mom’s voice and I set my fork down, waiting until she looked up at me. “Mom, you know I’m not the type of person who wants flashy things. I’ve never been like that. As long as I get to see you and spend time with you on my birthday, that’s all I care about.”
And I truly meant those words. I could’ve just been saying them, blowing smoke up my own ass regarding that, but it was the absolute truth.
“You’re such a good girl, Stella. I don’t know how I got so lucky to have you as a daughter.”
I smiled.
“What about Cannon?”
My heart jumped to my throat. “What about him?” She gave me this smile that had me shifting on my seat.
“Spending time with him for your birthday?”
