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Bryce sauntered over. “Mitch, you always did pout when you didn’t get your way.” I gripped the edge of the tailgate. “I didn’t know Juliana was back on the market. I may just have to try to get on that.”
My fist connected with his face before I could think. A hush came over the woods. Everybody looked to see the commotion.
Bryce rubbed his jaw. “You asshole.”
He took a swing, and I caught his fist in my palm. “Don’t you ever talk about her like that again,” I warned.
Mulaney stepped in between us and pushed Bryce’s chest. “Take your trouble somewhere else.”
He remained rooted in place as I struggled to get my breathing in check. The guy was trouble, always had been, and the thought of him getting after Juliana had a fresh round of anger pumping through my veins.
As if he could see it, his eyes turned wary before they flicked from her to me. “You better watch your back, Jacobs.”
What could he do to me that could hurt worse than what Juliana had done?
Chapter Three
Juliana
“Who is that?”
Alfie looked on in surprise as he watched the showdown between Mitch and Bryce.
“Her ex-boyfriend,” Emily volunteered.
I shot her a look to shut it, but she just casually sipped on moonshine.
“He’s aggressive,” Alfie noted.
I bristled at the observation. “He’d never do anything that wasn’t deserved.”
Emily snorted, and I glared at her. So what I was defending him. It was the truth.
“Guess that explains the look a second ago.” Alfie swallowed some of the liquid fire, coughing when it went down.
I patted his back as everyone turned to see what was going on. “You okay?”
“What is that? Gasoline?” he spluttered.
I snickered. “Something like that.”
Mulaney approached, and my palms turned sweaty. I hadn’t seen her since Mitch and I split up. Avoiding her wrath was a priority, but it was too late.
“The more you drink, the easier it gets,” she offered in Alfie’s direction.
“Somehow, I doubt that,” Alfie said as he accepted a beer from Emily.
“How was the trip?” Her gaze shifted and zeroed in on me.
“Amazing. More than I expected.”
“I see that.” She frowned, flicking a sideways look at Alfie. “We need to talk.”
Emily dug her finger into my back. Nerves fluttered. A quick glance toward Mitch and I saw he wasn’t looking in our direction.
I pasted a serene smile on my face. “I’d love to catch up. How are your folks? Miss Ruby and your grandfather?”
“They’re good, but you know that’s not what I meant.”
