Page 50 of Blood

People from nearby tables have started to look, and my earlier confusion is replaced by embarrassment and anxiety.

“Kaleb . . .” I start.

“Not a fucking word,” he orders; his finger held up to me.

“We were just having a drink.” Cooper smirks. His face changes just for a second, but I see it. No longer the sweet guy coming to the rescue, he’s enjoying this. Kaleb’s anger is what he wants.

I open my mouth to reassure Kaleb that nothing was going on, but before I can, he takes a step toward me, bending his largebody until his shoulder is at my stomach and then bounds an arm around my thighs.

I give a startled scream as I’m thrown over his shoulder.

A cheer goes through the bar.

Can you die from embarrassment?

I don’t fight him for fear of causing even more of a scene. Instead, I feel tears build as we leave the building. Humiliated.

I am never speaking to Kaleb again.Asshole.

My body slides against his as he lowers me. It takes everything I have not to kick him in the balls.

“Of all the men in this town.” He shakes his head. “That man hates us, and you’re out here trying to fuck him. Get in the car, Samantha.”

“I went for a drink, Jasper sat at the table, and Kyle came over to help. He was being nice. Something you’d know absolutely nothing about.”

Dropping into the passenger seat, I reach for the door handle and slam the door before he can stop me.

Kaleb closes his eyes, tilting his face toward the sky. It looks like he’s trying to calm himself, like I’m not the injured party here. What’s he got to be mad about, other than being such a dick?

As he rounds the car, I see Cooper standing at the bar door watching us.

The inside of the car stays silent as we head out of the lot.

“You really think he did that to be kind? We got him fired!” he reminds me.

“I didn’t,” I stress, poking my chest.

“Fine. Daniel, Dad, Michael, and I are the reason that asshole isn’t a cop anymore. He fucking hates us. And by us, I do mean you as well,” he clarifies.

He’s right. I know he is, I saw Cooper’s face, but after that exit, every fiber of my being tells me to argue and not let him win.

“Who I have drinks with is not your business.”

“The fuck it’s not,” he argues, taking his eyes off the road to glance at me. “Everything you do is my business, Samantha.”

“Do you have any idea what you just did back there?” I ask, pointing back in the direction of the bar.

“Yes.” He nods. “I stopped you from fucking the one guy in this town that needs stabbing.”

Shock rolls through me at his words.

“How can you say that? After everything that happened at your house?”

Kaleb sighs, wiping a hand over his exhausted face.

My dad’s words of Kaleb going to the cabin to rest ricochet in my head.

“Here I am, fighting with myself about letting you have the space you need and just taking the reins like you obviously need me to, and you’re out here trying to fuck the closest loser.”