Page 66 of Fireworks

“Are you freaking kidding me right now? How did you even find me?”

Holding out his phone, he wagged it in front of me, smirking.

“Remember when you lost your phone, and we tracked it with mine? Well, we never turned the tracker off. I told you, you’re always mine. Katie, I’m sorry for what I did. I miss you so much.”

“Stalker much? You could have texted me or called.”

The sound of his laughter sent a chill up my spine. It was the same one I had heard a dozen times while he was drunk and thought he was untouchable.

“Oh, because you would have answered? I knew I needed to see your face to get you to talk to me. I fucked up, okay? It wasn’t worth it. She wasn’t worth it. You’re the one I’m meant to be with. Obviously, you aren’t ready to be over either if your family doesn’t even know.”

Trying hard to stifle a laugh was difficult. What a joke. Did he think that this apology would magically make everything he put me through disappear? That his cheating on me and calling me a prude bitch would just fade out of my memory. The fact that every time he drank, he became a terror. I wasn’t going to just forget all that.

The smug look on his face set something off inside of me. Drawing my shoulders back, I stood taller and more certain of myself.

“First off, I didn’t tell them because I didn’t know how to tell them the asshole I was dating cheated on me because I wouldn’t spread my legs for him.”

The hope that was in his eyes started fading, building my confidence.

“Second, there is no way in hell I’d ever get back with you after the way you treated me. You can go back home now and find someone else. There is no more us. Don’t worry, I’ll tell everyone you’re sorry you couldn’t make it to dinner.”

Taking a step back, I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket again. Turning my back on Brandon, I knew I’d need to make up a good excuse why he wasn’t showing up. Grabbing onto my arm, he attempted to pull me back. Spinning my body back to face him, our eyes locked on one another in a battle of the wills. My jaw was tight as I wiggled my arm under his grip, unable to break free.

“This isn’t over Katie.”

Releasing my arm from his grip, he turned, and walked away as if he hadn’t just threatened me.

My phone wasn’t stopping as it continuously vibrated in my pocket. Who the hell was bothering me now? As I pulled it out, I realized it’s a phone call. Pressing to accept the call, I brought it to my ear.

“Where the fuck are you, and why aren’t you answering my texts?”

Rolling my eyes, I was sure he could hear it in my voice.

“What’s your problem? I’m heading back now.”

His voice rose with each syllable as he paused between each word.

“Where. The. Fuck. Are. You? Nate just told me what that asshole did to you. I will fucking kick his ass back to wherever he came from. He better not step foot in my place tonight. He’s got a lot of nerve even coming near you again.”

My brother had been protective of me before, but never anything more than a menacing glare at a guy or some ridiculous questions. I wasn’t sure how to take this side of him.

“Take a breath, Asher. I’m fine. I handled it already.”

I questioned myself as the words fell from my lips. I wasn’t sure I had handled it, being that Brandon didn’t seem to accept we were over.

“Don’t tell me to take a breath. You’re my fucking sister. Nobody ever talks to you that way, you understand me? You should have told me when it happened, or Nate, so we could have handled this.”

Asher was on a roll and didn’t seem like he was slowing down soon. His reaction took me by surprise as I had never heard him so worked up, especially over me. I waited patiently for him to get out all the obvious frustration he had built up. As I heard him take a breath, I used the opportunity to speak.

“Can I say something yet?”

His tone was still heavy with aggravation as he answered back sharply.

“What?”

A smile played on my lips as I spoke.

“Thank you, Asher. I’ll be back at your place soon. Can you just not tell mom and dad? You know how they are.”