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Manzi turned and strode away. He grabbed his date’s arm and dragged her with him. She let out a string of curses in Spanish, none of which Manzi seemed to understand, let alone care about, but I was pretty sure they were extremely intense.
At least, I thought so, based on my Spanish 101.
Nobody stopped him as he pushed open the door and the pair disappeared outside.
The remaining men went back to drinking and talking in a low murmur.
“I apologize for my young, reckless friend.” Roman continued to look at me with those incredible eyes, and I felt like a patient on an operating table.
He could take me apart and I think I’d let him.
What the hell was wrong with me?
“It’s okay. It was just an accident.”
“Even still. Did he hurt you?”
“No. I’m fine, really.”
He nodded once. “If he bothers you again, come find me.”
And with that, he walked away and joined the nearest group of men. They greeted him with smiles, though they all seem reserved, respectful—even a little afraid.
I couldn’t blame them.
“Holy crap,” I whispered to myself as I picked up my tray. I returned it to the back, found a broom, and quickly cleaned up the glass shards.
They glittered in the overhead light. I kept glancing over at Roman, the center of attention.
Who the hell was that guy? He’d defused the very angry, very scary Manzi without breaking a sweat, and I got the feeling that Manzi wasn’t used to being deferential.
Heck, none of the men in this place struck me as the simpering type. And yet Roman controlled the room like a general in front of his latest cadets.
I hurried into the back again and leaned up against the wall by the employees’ bathroom, hands shaking. I wasn’t sure if I was freaking out from Manzi manhandling me, or if I was trembling from the intensity of Roman’s attention.
“What the hell happened out there?” I turned as Winter stormed over looking outraged. She was a few inches taller with dark auburn hair and the kind of curves that made most women jealous. Including me. And I knew for a fact that her idea of working out was walking to Wawa to buy three Snickers bars and a cheese-filled pretzel.
Whereas I went for a five-mile run most mornings just to stay in shape. And to quiet the little voice in my skull that kept wanting to go over the same old mistakes from my past, again and again and again.
Mostly to stay in shape, though.
“Did that fucking guy grab you? Jack just told me—”
“It’s okay, seriously,” I said quickly, holding up my hands to try to keep her from exploding. “One of the other guests helped me out.”
Winter let out a sharp huff and slammed herself against the wall next to me. “That motherfucker. Did you see the way he was talking to that girl he had with him? If I were her, I’d stab him in the eye with a fork.”
“I totally believe it. I sort of have the feeling she’s tried that, though. You should’ve heard what she said to him in Spanish as they left.”
“Yeah? Good, I hope she makes him feel like a real piece of shit.” Winter’s expression softened. She was a few years older and lived in the apartment unit below mine. We rented from this nice old lady named June who was happy to lose out on a little extra cash in the summer to have a couple of full-time, dependable tenants. “You’re too passive sometimes, you know.”
“Hey, don’t make me feel bad. I wasn’t the one being a dick.”
She smoothed her hair over her shoulder. “Fair enough. I just want to see you stick up for yourself, you know?”
I forced a smile. “You do the sticking up for both of us.”
“Damn right I do. Any guy talks to my girl like that, I knee him in the balls. No questions asked.”
