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I’m guessing she doesn’t know what else to say. Can’t blame her there. “Don’t feel sorry for me. I should have never gotten behind the wheel of that truck and drove off like I did. I’m alive and that’s all I can be thankful for.”
She wipes her eyes and we finish eating. I watch as she takes another sip of her soda before looking up at me. “When I saw you in ICU that first time, I wondered what happened to make you lose your arm. I got filled in by another nurse your injury had happened in a car accident.”
“I remember thinking when I woke up about how lucky I was that someone so beautiful was in the same room and not looking at me like I was some sort of monster.”
“You’re no monster, Austin. You’re the same as everyone else, you just lost your arm. If someone judges you for that, then shame on them.”
My God, I could almost kiss her right now, but I may try at the end of the date. We sit and talk a little while longer. I notice her checking her phone. “Is everything okay?”
“Oh, of course. I was just seeing what time it is. I have to work in the morning.” She smiles.
“Well, why didn’t you say something? I don’t want to keep you too late.”
“Thank you,” she says, scooting her chair back.
We both walk outside. I’m having probably the best damn night of my life. I’m on fucking cloud nine and no one can pull me out of it.
“Why don’t you go back into hiding, freak?” A voice comes from out of nowhere. The hair on my arm stands on end. What the fuck?
Paige gasps and I turn to see where the voice is coming from. A smug guy in a muscle shirt is staring at me with his arms crossed. He’s staggering, clearly drunk, and I’m not in the mood for this. This guy can’t be picking a fight here, not right now. But he is.
“What the fuck did you say to me?” I step towards him, making sure Paige is behind me. I won’t let anything happen to her.
“You heard me you, one-arm freak.” I knew people could be cruel, but even when I had both arms, I would have never treated anyone disabled this way.
“Just what the fuck is your problem? Let me enjoy my night and go enjoy yours. I’ll even forget the asshole remarks you just made.”
“You know she probably just feels sorry for you.”
I take another step closer to him. I know the rules of Lou’s. I can’t fight outside of the gym or I’ll be terminated but I haven’t exactly been on the roster to fight lately, and this asshole is begging for it. “You may want to shut the fuck up now.”
“What are you going to do? Hit me with one arm?”
“Austin, he’s not worth it,” Paige says from behind me.
“Honey, why don’t you just come with me? I’ll show you what being with a real man is like,” the guy says to her. I notice out of the corner of my eye a small crowd is beginning to form around us. I should walk away, but he just won’t quit running his fucking mouth.
I step closer and throw a hook against his cheek. He spits blood and his gaze turns furious. He tries to punch me back but I block him. I guess training again has paid off. He tries again and his fist barely grazes my cheek. He tries to push me but I grab hold of his shirt and slam him to the ground.
Hell, I do still have it in me. The fight never left.
“You got fucking lucky,” he seethes.
I pick my foot up and slam it into his chest. “No, you got lucky. You better pray I never see you again.”
I move my foot and turn away from him. The crowd formed around us moves out of my way. No one says a word. Poor Paige, she looks terrified and I hate she had to see that. I reach for her hand and let out an inward sigh of relief when she takes it. I get her in the car and look toward the guy to make sure he isn’t trying to cause more shit. When I see he’s still lying on the ground, I get in the car and start up the engine. I begin to drive away before I say anything to Paige. I can only imagine what’s going through her head right now and with my luck, this is the only date we’ll ever have.
Chapter 13
Paige
What started out as a good first date turned into a nightmare. I don’t blame him for punching the guy. He was a complete asshole. I can’t believe he had the audacity to say the things he did to Austin. I’m at a loss for words right now, though. I was honestly thinking Austin was just going to blow him off and walk away.
We’re driving away from the burger place. I’m guessing he’s just going to bring me home now. I told him I work early in the morning and I do. I also have to go get Darla.
“I’m so sorry you had to see that, Paige,” he sighs as he drives. I turn to look at him. His face is beet red and he’s breathing rapidly.
“It’s fine. He deserved that. I’m sorry you were singled out like that,” I tell him. I want to know how he’s feeling inside. I can’t imagine having someone say such cruel things to me.
