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“Kanan, we’re…Stuart and I…we’re not together anymore.”
The joy I felt was followed by guilt. I had no reason to be so happy about the fact the guy Jeffery left me for booted him. “Oh. I see.”
“That’s what…I mean…I just wanted to speak to you. I know I fucked up.”
The line had been quick, so I was next to go into the bathroom. I wanted the conversation over, but Jeffery could be stubborn. “You did, but it’s past, it’s over and we’ve both moved on from it.”
When the bathroom was available, I went inside, hoping he’d get the hint and leave, but he followed me in, getting in front of the stall I was about to head to. “Kanan, please. I just need to speak with you.”
Before I could say another word, Joel burst into the bathroom and went straight for Jeffery. I watched like it was in slow motion, though it happened too quickly for me to react right away. Joel grabbed Jeffery’s shoulders, spun him, and threw him into the wall. The other two men at the urinals were quick to zip up and turn to see what was happening.
“You no-count, piece o’ shit! Ya ain’t got no bus’ness talkin’ to Kan!”
“Joel,” I yelled, then went to him, but he couldn’t be dissuaded.
He backhanded Jeffery before I could grab him, but as he raised his arm to do it again, I grabbed his hand and pulled him back a little. That was the wrong move, as Jeffery took the opportunity to cheap-shot Joel as I was holding him.
Joel crashed into me and I fell back against the stalls, Joel cursing before I could get my bearings. “Ya son o’ a gun, I’ll kill ya dead!”
The two men finally stepped up to get between the feuding men and I managed to wrangle Joel out of the bathroom. “Joel! Stop!”
“He was gonna hurt ya!”
“No, he wasn’t,” I started to explain, but Burke and Rick were both pushing through the crowd. Rick came right for me, grabbing me in his arms.
“What happened in there?”
“It was all…a mess. Can we go outside for a little while?”
“Sure, but it’s freezing. You’re in a robe.”
“I don’t care. Just for a minute or two.”
Rick did something then that shocked me, but made me love him more, and I didn’t think that was possible. He picked me up into his arms and started for the back entrance. Someone opened the door for him and he walked out with me, carrying me over the walkway to where the Land Rover was parked.
“Rick, you don’t need to carry me.”
“You have no shoes, Kanan.”
He managed to get the keys from his tight leather pants but handed them to me as he tried to hold onto me. “Want to get that…?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Rick. Kama, I can’t…I’m just Rick right now.”
The ordeal upset him more than I thought, so I hurried to hit the button for the locks and once we heard the clicks, I opened the passenger door and was slid right into the cold car.
“I’ll get this warmed right up,” he said as he hurried to the driver’s side. Once inside the car, he started it and waited a few seconds before turning on the heat. “Sorry.”
“Rick, we only needed to step outside for a minute.”
“What the hell happened, Kanan?”
I didn’t want to tell him, knowing how angry he’d be, but I couldn’t keep it from him. “Jeffery followed me into the bathroom, begging me to speak to him alone. I refused, but he kept asking. I guess Joel saw us and flew in that bathroom like the devil was chasing him. I was shocked, though I shouldn’t have been. I’ve heard the stories about Eli’s ex.”
“Joel loves you, Kanan. I’ve seen him around you. You are truly one of his best friends.”
“As much as I loved him before, I love him more now. He would have beat Jeffery half to death for hurting me.” I looked over at him with a wicked smile. “Better be nice to me or you’ll be hog chow.”
