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“Well, isn’t this something.” Josh barked out a harsh laugh, glaring between us. “You fucked this piece of shit? Dawson Dumfries’ son? Wow, Dayna, talk about scraping the bottom of the barrel.”
“Josh,” I snapped at the same time as Aiden growled, “I said watch it.”
“Or what? What the hell will you do about it? Hit me?” Josh stepped toward Aiden. “I looked you up, asshole. Seems you have a problem with your temper. But go for it. Hit me. Then enjoy your final season sitting on the bench.”
“Josh, please.” I stood up and put myself between the two of them, Aiden at my back. “This isn’t helping.”
“The guys told me not to wait for you,” he spat. “So many times I could have—”
Crack.
Josh stared at me with horror as he brought a hand to his face. “You hit me.”
“You don’t get to stand there and put the blame on me for all of this.” I dropped my hand. “Our relationship wasn’t perfect, Josh. I know that. I know I kept you at a distance, and maybe that wasn’t fair to you. But it’s my body. I get to decide what I do with it.” Tears pricked the corners of my eyes, but I swallowed them down.
“Whatever makes it easier for you to sleep at night.” He shook his head in disgust. “The two of you deserve each other.”
Aiden moved closer, his hand resting on the small of my back, a silent offer of support.
Josh noticed and scoffed again. “He’ll use you, Dayna. He’ll get what he wants from you, and then he’ll throw you away like you’re nothing. But maybe that’s what you deserve, maybe that’s—”
“Enough.” The growl in Aiden’s chest reverberated through me, and my eyelids fluttered. “You need to leave, asshole. Before I make you.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m going.” Josh cut me with a scathing look that made me wish the ground would open up and swallow me whole.
He stormed over to his car and ripped the door open, ducking inside. It wasn’t until it roared off down the street that I let out a weary sigh.
“You okay?”
Slowly, I turned to face Aiden. “I’m sorry you had to hear that.”
“I’m not.” My brows furrowed as I gazed up at him. Aiden reached out and brushed his thumb across my jaw.
“Your ex is an asshole.”
“So it would seem.” I dropped my eyes, but Aiden was right there, gliding his fingers under my jaw and tilting my face back to his.
“You did nothing wrong.”
“I’m not sure about that. But I’m relieved I saw his true colors now and not a year down the line.”
His hand cupped my face, the air crackling around us. There was a tether between us. One I had never once felt with Josh.
“Aiden, I—”
“Bug? Aiden?” Carson’s voice rang out, and we jerked away from each other. But we weren’t quick enough.
“What’s going on out here?” he asked, narrowing his eyes at me.
“Aiden heard Josh say some things and came to make sure I was okay.” I gave him a reassuring smile, but it didn’t dim the suspicion in his eyes.
“Something you two want to tell me?”
“Nothing you need to worry about,” Aiden said coolly, turning my blood to ice. I glanced at him, frowning, and he added, “I should probably—”
“Wait.” I grabbed his hand. “Actually, there is something.”
“Dayna,” he murmured.
