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“Fucking pathetic,” Dale spits.
Grace drags in a slow breath before confronting him again. “I hope you find peace. I hope you catch whatever haunts you and put the pain to rest. But most of all, I hope you reach a point where you no longer need to put others down to make yourself feel better.”
He looks stricken for a brief moment. Almost as fast, the slack in his features pinches into a glower. “I’m fine. It’s you who needs a reality check. An athlete like him isn’t going to settle for a chunky—”
“Get. Out.” My voice is a drawn bow with a notched arrow aimed at him.
Dale would be wise to follow my command. But of course, his feet remain planted and begin to grow roots. The idiot is more stubborn than a pack of mules.
Ridge slinks through the shadows undetected. The sneak attack sends my condolences to those who suffered his wrath on the ice. This douche he’s currently targeting? Not so much.
Dale’s wide gaze takes inventory of his size. “Holy shit, are you—?”
“Two seconds away from knocking you out? Yeah, that’s me. I suggest you take Foster’s advice and get the fuck out.”
The dumbass is still starstruck but begins to backpedal. “All right, man. No need for a fight. She ain’t worth it.”
The empty stool beside me clatters to the floor. I’m lunging forward when Ridge grips Dale by the collar.
“Take care of your girl. I’ve got this pesky shit handled.” My true friend shakes the imposter like a rag doll. “We’re going outside.”
The door slams with their hasty exit. An eerie lull blankets the room as the scene struggles to get back on track. But the static doesn’t bother me. My focus is trained elsewhere. Always.
I have Grace tucked flush against me before she can notice the dynamic shift. “Fuck, I love you.”
Cheers and applause erupt from those surrounding us to acknowledge that I’m crazy about this girl.
Her gasp glues our chests together. “What?”
“I probably have for a while now but that”—stabs a finger in the direction where Ridge dragged Dale—“brings my feelings to the surface.”
“My estranged half-brother, who was supposed to be your friend but stole your girlfriend instead?”
“This isn’t really about him. He didn’t take anything worth keeping. But what you did just now?” I pause to gather my composure. “Damn, soulmate. You’re the one meant to breathe life into me. I’ve been trudging through muted gray until you arrived. You bring the definition and detail and devotion.”
Grace’s bottom lip trembles. “Yeah?”
I clutch her face between my palms. My thumbs smooth over her cheeks. “You make me forget that I’m scared to fall in love. Mostly because I already have. Fallen, that is. I’ve been yours since you first walked into this bar. Yours to catch and keep.”
“And love.” She pushes up onto the balls of her feet to kiss me. “I love you, bartender. You’ve shown me the true meaning. It’s better than any romance novel. Bright and vibrant and ours. We’re real.”
“A match made from the start.” I cup her nape and tug until our foreheads meet. “Thanks for defending me.”
“Well, yeah. Why wouldn’t I?”
“My last girlfriend slept with him.”
“I’m aware.” She gags. “I hope that doesn’t reflect poorly on me.”
My grip on her tightens. “How could you even think that?”
Grace shrugs. “We’re related.”
“But you couldn’t be more different.” I brush my mouth against hers. “You’ve fixed what was broken.”
“And you’ve healed wounds that I kept hidden.”
“We’re quite a pair.” The ugliness that Dale flung at me wafts into our moment. “You don’t believe him, right?”
