Page 20 of Rowdy Boy

I’m out of the Jeep as soon as I put it in park, but he beats me to the passenger door. He’s got Tori in his arms before I can even walk around to greet him.

“You fucked up,” he sneers as he keeps Tori wrapped protectively in a hug.

Tell me something I don’t know, bro.

“I know. I’m sorry. Dammit…” I run a hand over my face in frustration. This night is already so fucked.I’mso fucked. I can’t even begin to process having Rhett upset with me right now.

He’s still got his girlfriend enveloped in his arms like he’s protecting her from me. “You want to fuck shit up, get reckless, and act like a fool every time your daddy does something to piss you off? Fine. Be my guest. But don’t do it with her. Don’teverput her at risk again, you hear me?”

My mind is racing, desperate to come up with something to say. I know what just happened was messed up, but I didn’t expect him to react this severely.

I try to collect myself and get him to stop with the lecture. “I didn’t—”

He cuts me off before I can get another word in, pointing right at me and leaning forward to get in my space. If Tori wasn’t physically between us right now, I’m pretty sure he would hit me.

“You did. You fucking knew what you were doing, Jake. And when you come down from this spiral, you’ll realize that.” He lowers his hand and settles it on her low back. He hasn’t stopped touching her since she got out of the car.

Her eyes meet mine, and we share a weary look. We both know Rhett well enough to know he needs to get this out. Our stoic golden boy isn’t used to being out of control, clearly. I watch as he drags in a long breath and shakes his head, then looks back at me. His next words come out low and steady, spoken as a vow he intends for both Tori and me to hear.

“Believe me when I say the only thing that couldeverchange anything between us is her.”

Tori whips her head up to meet his gaze, and he runs his hand along her hair like she’s the most precious thing in his life. Suddenly, it’s like I’m not even here as they stare longingly into each other’s souls.

I scoff and roll my eyes. And he saysI’mthe dramatic one…

“Bro, you’re both still in high school. There’s no way…”

I knew better. I fucking knew better. Yet I’m still surprised when he lunges for me and shoves me hard enough that my back slams into the Jeep.

He grits his teeth and snarls right in my face. “She’s. It. For. Me.”

I swallow and nod out of self-preservation. It’s my go-to move, really: stick my tail between my legs and cower until the threat gets bored and moves on. “Understood,” I choke out.

As if reading my racing thoughts, Tori steps between us, turning her back to Rhett to give me her full attention. She cups my face in her hands, forcing me to look down into her emerald-green eyes. “We’re okay,” she insists, repeating the words we shared earlier.

“V…” Rhett warns. His anger is coiling right under the surface. I can practically feel him seething from a few feet away.

“Everhett,” Tori challenges, spinning on her heel to face him while keeping one hand on my arm. “You don’t know what happened tonight or why. I’ll explain it all when we get home.”

She looks back at me, and I smile weakly. I’m grateful she’s willing and able to handle him.

“Right now, Jake needs to get inside. Give him your clothes.”

He does an honest-to-God double-take at her request. His eyes are still bugging out of his head when she turns back to me. “You can’t go in there like that.”

I look down at my rumpled, half-dressed state and know she’s right. Thank God she’s here to think of shit like this.

She squeezes my arm and gives me a half smile before turning back to Rhett and waving one hand up and down in his direction. “Strip.”

He grumbles under his breath but undoes the buttons on his polo before pulling it over his head. He’s wearing a navy collared shirt and khaki shorts—probably a more appropriate outfit than what I would have come up with on my own anyway. I shuck out of my tank and offer it to him, which makes him scowl even harder. He undoes his belt and shoves down his shorts next, using the Jeep and Tori for coverage.

I quickly take off my bottoms and glance at Tori. I have to hold back my reaction when I see her smirking down at Rhett with her hands on her hips.

“Your clothes smell like sweat and gasoline,” he huffs as he pulls on my athletic shorts.

“I’ll take them off you as soon as we get home,” she interjects.

This time I can’t help but snicker.