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Natalie gasped. "No. Oh God. I didn't want you two to fight, least of all because of me."
"Natalie, come on. Forget about this. How are you feeling? Are you hurt? Tell me." I should've focused on her instead of fighting with Maddox. "You're shaking."
"I’m so annoyed. I can't believe Vince is doing this again, causing trouble where I work. I'm only a temp here, but what would've happened if I weren't? Is he just going to ruin my life all over again every time I get a new job?"
"Not if you get the restraining order," I said.
“I'm filing a request for one as soon as possible.”
"Do you want to go home or at least get in the car?"
"No. I don't want us to leave. I want us to go back upstairs so you and Maddox can patch things up."
I stared at her. She was clearly shaken from Vince's visit, and she cared about me and Maddox?
"Natalie, all I want tonight is to take care of you. I don't give two shits if Maddox never talks to me again."
"No, don't say that, please. You two are starting to finally... This is all my fault." She looked like she was going to burst into tears.
"What are you talking about?"
"You wouldn't have gotten in your fight if I wouldn't have brought my drama with Vince into all of your lives."
"Babe, why didn't you tell me when it happened last time?"
She started crying harder.
"Babe, don't cry. Just tell me how to make this better."
"I don't know," she murmured. "I didn't tell you because I only have you for so little time before you move back to New York. I didn't want us to waste any of it on Vince. He called a couple times and sent me emails. Once he put Post-its on my door. But I didn’t have enough incidents for a restraining order. And after he showed up here last time and I made it clear that I’m not getting back with him, I really thought he wasn’t going to come near me again. God, I'm so stupid."
"No, you're not."
"And now I got you and Maddox into a fight."
"If he wants to fight, that's his issue."
After taking a deep breath, she dried her tears and took a step back.
"No, it's not his issue. It's yours too. He’s your brother. And I know it means a lot to you that you're building a connection with him, even if you don't want to admit it. The last thing I want is for that to fall apart because of me."
"Nothing is falling apart. Babe, let's go home. I'll cook for you. Or let's go to the hotel and order room service."
"No. I want to go home."
"Okay, then let's go."
"Alone."
"What?" I asked, taken aback.
"Alone. I need to be on my own. I just need some time to regroup, Jake. Please?"
"Why? What if Vince shows up there?"
"I'll call the police instantly. I promise. Jake, please."
"What if he's there when you arrive? At least let me drive you there."
