The sound of cheering was a sign of tonight’s victory. Quintin had offered to throw a party at his house in honor of destroying Hawk’s. Music blared throughout the house, setting the environment.
I was standing with a few of my friends, finally able to relax after helping set everything up. Quintin, my best friend, was starting around the lively room.
With a smirk, I elbowed him. “Are you looking for that girl again?”
Quintin glared at me. “I don’t even think she knows I exist.”
After taking a drink from my cup, I asked, “What’s her name again?”
“Jessica,” Q sighed, thinking about her. They’d never spoken before, but that was because he had seen her for the first time two weeks ago at our football game. She’d been talking to one of our friends’ girlfriends.
Q was too shy to ask about her, so he’d been staring from a distance, hoping to see her again.
Seeing him lovestruck was amusing. “If you want, I can just ask Milo myself.”
Q shook his head. “I’ve got to do this myself. He might think you’re trying to get with her and that’ll ruin everything.”
I laughed at his accusation.
“Hey, man.” Milo stopped in front of me. “I have to go help my girl. Are you able to restock the kitchen?” He furrowed his eyebrows, clearly looking for help.
Glancing at Q from the corner of my eye, I smirked, pretending to let him know my devious actions. He widened his brown eyes, bolting before he could hear me.
Biting my lip to hold back my laughter, I turned my attention back to Milo. “Yeah, I got it.”
There wasn’t much else to do. I’d spent most of the night avoiding my ex-girlfriend. I doubted she’d be in the kitchen pouring herself her own drink.
She’d always yell at me for leaving her empty-handed, like I was her own personal butler. Sarah had expected me to drive her everywhere, buy all her food, and do anything to keep her happy.
It had been exhausting. I was glad to be single now. The freedom of a new start.
Q returned as soon as Milo was out of sight. “What’d he say?”
Giving him a mischievous smile, I retorted, “I thought you wanted to do it yourself?”
Q mumbled, “I mean, I do. It doesn’t hurt to have help, though, does it?”
I eventually burst out laughing and slapped my best friend’s back. “I didn’t say anything to him. He was asking for help restocking the kitchen.”
I’d met Quintin when I was eight; it had been both our first time at football camp. Neither of us had known anyone there, so we instantly became partners in crime.
As I made my way to the kitchen, I shouldered the fuck out of someone. Before I could apologize, I heard them growl, “Watch it.”
Clenching my jaw, I turned to see who I’d bumped. Instead of meeting an angry face, I was staring at the back of someone’s head. The only visible thing was their dark brown hair.
I was going to let it go, but the disrespect annoyed me. “Excuse me?” I faked outrage, hoping the entitled asshole would turn around. When he did, I realized it was Adam Solano.
The guy had a reputation for having a short temper. Well, fuck.
My gaze flickered to the girl Adam was with. The familiar features clicked in my mind. Kara. I had a few classes with her, but we’d never talked.
A voice snapped me from my thoughts. “You’re the one who bumped into me,” Adam said in a low voice, trying to sound threatening. I cleared my head, focusing on the situation at hand. While Adam was facing me, Kara turned, ready to bolt.
Before she could, he must’ve tightened his grip because she let out a loud yelp. When she turned back around, her eyes locked with mine. If it weren’t for the fear lingering in them, I would’ve been stunned by her large brown eyes.
My chest tightened when I realized she needed help. “Is that how you treat your girlfriend?” I gestured toward the death grip on Kara.
What the fuck did I just walk into?
Kara retaliated, “No, I’m not your girlfriend.” Her hands were curled into fists.
The whole situation was making my head spin.
I was going to rub my temples, but I noticed Kara wince. She was squeezing her eyes shut tightly. Glancing down, I noticed her wrist was turning red from his tight grip.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I growled, ready to interfere. “You’re hurting her.” The fear in her eyes grew tenfold.
Adam glanced over his shoulder. “Mind your own business.” A small crowd began to form. Good, I need more witnesses to see what this asshole was doing.
I straightened, already knowing where this was going to go. “I’m not just going to stand by and watch you lay your hands on a girl.” I grabbed his shoulder in an attempt to pull him away from Kara.
It seems like he knew, too. The moment I touched him, he turned and swung, sending his fist flying toward my face.
Instead of rolling my eyes like I wanted to, I scoffed and dodged it. The dumbass was too predictable.
When he realized he’d missed, he resorted to lunging at me with a growl. Thrown off guard, we both fell to the ground with a loud thud.
The loud impact caught everyone’s attention.
Regaining my footing, I stood hovered over Adam. “Get up,” I snapped, kicking his side. Adam let out a grunt. “If you can lay your hands on a girl, then you can try to lay your hands on me.”
Adam’s eyes darkened as he stood up. While trying to read me, he threw another punch at me. As his arm came in, I grabbed it and twisted it behind him, pulling it upward.
Adam yelped, helpless with his arm tucked behind him. Before he could run away, I swung my fist, hitting the left side of his face.
Pain shot through my knuckles as a loud crack echoed throughout the room. Adam’s body slumped, and I let him go, watching as he fell to the ground.
Hopefully that’ll teach him not to put his hands on girls.
That’s only what weak men do.
