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He stands behind me with his arms wrapped around my shoulders, resting his chin on my head. The trials and tribulations of being short.

“What do you feel like, babe?” he asks, not paying the least bit of attention to the potential chaos in front of us. “I want the works. Lots of meat and cheese. But no broccoli or stupid shit.”

“Vegetables aren’t stupid,” I reply. “What about some green peppers at least?”

“I guess, but then we’ll need extra sausage.”

I reach behind me and playfully palm his cock. “We’ve already got that order on lock.”

He bursts out laughing, and the sound draws the attention of the group in front of us.

“Well, don’t you two look cozy,” Mark sneers.

“Just carry on with what you’re doing,” Gavin returns.

His tone is no bullshit, and I’m so grateful that he’s here to handle the situation for me. I’m simply too tired, defeated, and emotionally wrecked to keep defending myself.

It isn’t a weakness to depend on him.

It’s a partnership.

I’m completely willing to carry the load when he needs me to as well.

“Or else what?” Mark challenges.

“Just give me a reason, friend,” Gavin drawls. “I’d be more than happy to show you. I’m more of an actions guy myself.”

Mark’s hateful presence has my heart racing because I briefly wonder if he was the one who set the cabin on fire. He openly can’t stand me and doesn’t care who knows about it, so he would be a complete idiot to act on it.

I shared his name with Henry along with Mr. McGraw’s, but it’s not the men who have the loudest barks that scare me. I don’t think they have it in them to actually kill me.

It’s the ones who are silently seething that I’m worried about because they’re my hidden enemies, and it’s hard to defend yourself against an unknown threat.

“I guess that explains why you chose a cunt girlfriend,” Mark replies, in a singsong voice.

Maybe he doubted Gavin.

He shouldn’t have.

Gavin releases me and walks across the restaurant so quickly that I can barely process it. I jump back when his fist connects with Mark’s jaw so hard that I swear the bones crunch. Another shot to the nose has Mark stumbling and falling to the floor.

“Keep your comments to yourself, and stay the fuck away from Ashley. Next time, I’ll snap your neck.” Gavin’s tone is level, but his jaw is tight and his rage is tightly coiled underneath a seemingly calm demeanor. “Now fucking apologize to her you piece of shit.”

Mark’s friends yank him back up to his feet, and he’s clutching his face as blood pools from between his fingers.

“You fucking prick,” he shouts.

“Apologize or you’re going to the hospital,” Gavin replies. “Don’t make me prove it.”

“I was just joking!”

“Alright, have it your way,” Gavin says, walking back over to Mark, who quickly hides behind his friends.

Yeah.

This coward is definitely not the culprit.

“Okay, fuck, whatever, I’m sorry!”