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“Sorry, what?”
“I said maybe we should go.”
“And let him win? No way.” Defiance sparked in her eyes. “I doubt they even recognize—”
“Ladies,” a deep voice said, and we both glanced up to find Thatcher and another guy staring down at us. “Hailee and, I’m sorry, I don’t think I got your name?”
“You didn’t,” I sassed. “Because I didn’t give it to you.”
The whole diner had fallen quiet, everyone straining to hear our conversation. Hailee flashed me a look that said, ‘don’t make it worse’, but no way was I just going to sit here while he taunted her.
“You go can now.” I dismissed them with my hand and focused on Hailee again. Silently praying they left. But they didn’t.
“I like this one,” Thatcher’s friend said. “I wonder what else her mouth can do—”
“You need to leave,” Hailee ground out, her hands curled around the edge of the table, turning her knuckles white.
“Funny,” Thatcher leaned down into her space, his lip twisted with amusement, “Because it sounds like a warning, and yet, I don’t see anyone here coming to your rescue. Do you, Gallen?”
“Don’t see no one, Cap.” Thatcher’s dog folded his arms over his chest, glaring at me.
My eyes surveyed the diner, searching for someone—anyone—who might help us. But the handful of kids I recognized from school all dropped their gazes the second I looked at them.
Cowards.
The rest of the kids watched with a mix of interest and sympathy, and I figured they were East kids. Used to Thatcher’s games.
“What do you want?” Hailee sounded disinterested, but I caught the inflection in her voice.
“Want?” Thatcher grinned. “I want lots of things, baby.” He plucked a strand of her hair and brought it to his nose, inhaling deeply.
Screw this. I dipped my hand into my purse and managed to dig out my cell phone without Lewis or his dog noticing. Quickly locating Cameron’s number, I fired off a text and then slid it back into my purse.
“Rumor has it you’re fucking Chase now?”
Hailee pressed her lips together refusing to answer.
“Get off her, you disgusting pig,” I yelled, but panic filled Hailee’s eyes as she shook her head subtly.
“Want me to shut her up, Cap?” The dog said. “Because I’d love nothing more than to watch her choke on my—”
“I’d like to see you try.” The words spilled out before I could stop them. Hunger glittered in the dog’s predatory gaze as his hooded eyes drifted down my body.
“Pig,” I muttered, angling myself away from him.
“I want you to give your boyfriend a message for me—”
“Why don’t you give it him yourself?”
Relief slammed into me at the sight of Cameron and Asher standing in the door. Thatcher immediately straightened, but he didn’t leave Hailee’s side.
“Are you okay?” I mouthed at her, and she nodded, unshed tears pooling in the corner of her eyes.
“Fee, baby, why don’t you come on over here?” Asher crooked his finger at me, and I rose, ignoring the low growl coming from Thatcher’s friend. When I reached him, Asher hooked me into his side and whispered, “You did the right thing.”
Although with the anger rolling off Cameron, I wasn’t sure. I didn’t want to incite a fight, but I didn’t want Lewis to upset Hailee any more than he already had.
“She yours, Bennet?” the dog asked Asher with a snarl. “Because if she’s not, I wouldn’t mind taking her for a ride; see if what they say about Raider chicks is true.” His laughter filled the air and a few of his teammates snorted.
