Total pages in book: 15
Estimated words: 14068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 70(@200wpm)___ 56(@250wpm)___ 47(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 70(@200wpm)___ 56(@250wpm)___ 47(@300wpm)
Damn. Must be so fun hanging out with this guy. Looks like he has one active brain cell that’s dangerously close to dying.
“Stop it, Todd! God, you’re embarrassing me!”
Jenna slams the door and rushes to him, slapping his chest.
“Jenna, babe. What has he done to you? Did he hurt you? Should I call the cops? Tell me. I’ll give him a lesson he’ll never forget.”
I can’t stop myself from barking out a laugh. He’ll teach me a lesson? I’d like to see him try.
He turns back to me and sneers. “You think that’s funny, you loser? My father knows people. He can have you—”
“Shut the fuck up, Todd!”
“Stop defending him, Jenna. I know you’re innocent and all, but he could have taken you anywhere and hurt you.”
“Why are you acting like this?”
“Because I’m your boyfriend!”
“No, you’re not. He is!”
Jenna points at me, and my blood freezes solid. Did I hear her right? Seems to me I’ve been having problems with my hearing all night. I’m not sure I imagined the things coming out of her mouth.
Todd’s face changes. He flicks his eyes from her to me and back to her. It takes him a good while, but eventually, understanding dawns on his face and he opens his mouth to laugh. He doubles over, hands clutching his stomach. “Oh fuck. Shit. I get it. I get it now.”
Jenna backs to me and I cup the back of her neck, sliding my thumb along the side. If this asshole tries anything funny, I don’t mind slamming his face against the concrete road.
Todd dramatically wipes the tears from his eyes and collects himself. With his hands on his waist, he shakes his head and chuckles. “Damn. Wasted a year on you, Jenna. Had no idea you were like this. I mean, I knew you were playing hard to get, but you end up with him? Does he fuck you good? Because I promise you, my dick’s big–”
I lunge forward, grab him by the throat, and slam his back against my car. He rears his arm back and tries to get in a punch, but I catch his fist and clench it. Hard.
His tendons stand out in his neck, eyes blinking rapidly, as he realizes he’s in big trouble.
“You talk to her like that, disrespect her, and I have no trouble smashing your skull with my bare hands.”
His eyes are wide as saucers, and he’s clawing my hand on his throat.
“I’m gonna let you go and you’re gonna apologize to Jenna. You’re gonna stay as far away from her as you can because if I see you anywhere near her, even your Daddy can’t help you.”
I slam him one more time, knocking his breath out of his lungs, and he kneels to the ground, taking big gulps of air.
“Apologize.”
His smug and cocky look is replaced by raw fear. His breaths burst in and out, and he looks around, probably for reinforcement. Realizing he’s alone, he hangs his head and slowly gets up.
My arm reaches for Jenna, shielding her if he goes crazy, but he runs a hand across his mouth and sighs. “Listen, Jenna. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. You left me at the party. One minute, you were there. The next, you were gone and not responding to my texts.”
“I’m not your girlfriend, Todd. I never was. I never led you on.”
He grabs his hair and looks up at the sky. “I know that now. Again, I’m sorry for being a jackass. Won’t happen again. I’ll stay away from you.”
Jenna doesn’t reply, just nods. He opens his mouth to say something, but at the last minute, his gaze shifts to me and he snaps his mouth shut.
He waves at her before turning around and jogging back to where he came from.
Both of us don’t move, not until we lose sight of him. The night air carries sounds of laughter in the distance and strains of music. That’s probably where Jenna was before. At a party with all the popular kids in school. Her friends. Yet she chose me.
She wraps her arms around her tiny frame and hunches her shoulders. I don’t like seeing her like this—afraid, unsure, not herself.
Hooking a finger under her chin, I force her to look at me. “You okay, baby? I’m sorry you had to see that. I’m not usually aggressive and violent.”
She gives me a soft smile. “I know. It’s the first time someone came to my defense is all.”
My eyes narrow. “What do you mean?”
“No one ever stood up for me. Not even my own parents.”
She digs the toe of her shoe to the ground, not meeting my eyes. “Thank you.”
I grab her shoulders lightly and press a kiss on her forehead. “Don’t thank me, baby. I’ll always protect you and keep you safe…if you let me.”