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“I’ll stay. And if you find yourself faltering, look at me. He gets shitty? Look at me. You got this. He can’t hurt you anymore. You left him. Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I said. “You’re right.”
My throat was suddenly dry, and I grabbed my milkshake and sucked on the straw like my life depended on it.
Bolstered by Smoke’s solid presence, I finally unlocked my phone. I didn’t want to answer the call, which was why I knew I had to.
Better to take control of the situation.
I pressed a button and put the phone to my ear.
“Why didn’t you answer me?” Knox demanded. “I called twice.”
Hearing the annoyance in his tone instantly had me retreating. “I—” my voice cracked.
“When I call, you answer, Logan.”
I was frozen in my seat; our dynamic was ingrained in me after several years together. Knox criticized and I apologized.
But this time the apology was lodged in my throat, beaten back by rage.
Smoke’s hand ventured across the table and settled on top of my palm. I curled my fingers around his and he gave me a little squeeze.
“Are you listening?” Knox snapped.
“No. I’m not listening.”
Knox paused. “Excuse me?”
“I’m not listening to you bitch anymore, Knox. Contrary to your own beliefs, I don’t just sit around waiting for you to call. In fact, I’ll never be taking your calls again.”
“What? What the hell are you talking about?”
“The redhead can have you all to herself. Have a good life, asshole.” I hung up and clutched the phone in my hand. My entire body began to shake.
“Fuck, that was amazing,” Smoke said, a smile blooming across his handsome face.
“Yeah?” I asked. “Then why do I feel like I’m going to throw up?”
“Adrenaline. I’m proud of you for doing that.”
Smoke hadn’t let go of my hand and I wasn’t going to remind him that he was touching me.
His gesture had given me the courage I needed. And something more. I liked the way my hand felt in his.
We stared at one another and then as if by tacit agreement, we both let go at the same time. My cell screen lit up, drawing my attention from the enigmatic man sitting across from me.
I looked at the screen and sent Knox to voicemail. And then I went into my phone and blocked his number.
“You finished with your food?” Smoke asked.
I nodded.
He got up from the table and gathered our trash while I went about blocking Knox on all my social media—and turning my settings to private. For the time being, I wanted to be a ghost.
And then I sent Tavy a text asking her to block Knox as well.
Her reply came fast.
