Page 36 of Shallow

“Let’s call iteven.”

“Forwhat?”

“For you being a general dickhead. Get out of here before I break somethingelse.”

As if she even gives a shit, Shiloh jumps in between us and presses a palm against each of us. “Cary,stop!”

Like that’s going to stop me from kicking hisass.

He stares at me like he’s not sure if I’m serious or not. To prove my point, I push Shiloh behind me and shove his shoulder. “You want a picture, motherfucker? Take mine. Then I’ll give you a permanent reminder of the day I kicked your asshole halfway up yourthroat.”

That doesit.

Raising his hands, he shakes his head at Shiloh and backs off the dance floor. “You’re not worth thisbullshit.”

In my attempt to prevent a scene, that’s exactly what I’ve created. Even though the music keeps playing, no one is talking and every eye is on us. Everyone’s source of entertainment has become the disgraced model and the chump who, once again, is throwing fists overher.

The smart thing to do would be to turn around and walk away. However, when it comes to Shiloh, what Ishoulddo is never whathappens.

Turning around, I grab her around the waist and tug her against me. It’s the first time in seven years I’ve held her this close. I can’t decide if it’s like drowning in a nightmare or finally coming home, but either way, all the air is sucked out of the room, leaving me to only breatheher.

Rain andsunshine.

“Cary, what are youdoing?”

I don’t know what to tell her. I’m not sure what the hell I’m doing, but we can’t just high-five and walk off the dance floor like nothing happened. My fingers slide across the indentations in her hips and come to rest in the same spot on her lower back that Frankie touched when they first walkedin.

“Damage control. Are you gonna argue with me all night or maybe try to be helpful for once?” I wait for her inevitable sarcasm, but instead, she inhales a heavy breath and wraps her arms around my neck. True to Shiloh form, though, what’s seen isn’t always what’s felt, because what’s felt are sharp-ass nails digging into the sensitive skin at the base of myskull.

“Why did you do that?” she says, breaking our silentstandoff.

“Shy, he’s anasshole.”

She fights a smirk. “You got all that from watching us across thebar?”

“You talk a lot of shit considering the company you keep, Mrs.Robinson.”

“Frankie? Frankie’s just a—wait, are youjealous?”

I don’t appreciate what she’s insinuating. Sliding a hand up her bare back, I weave it through her mass of blonde curls and tilt her head back. “Of Frankie and you? Give me a break.” I tighten my fingers, her gasp spurring me on. “Yeah, he has no car, and you’re banned from being within twenty feet of one. I think I’ll be allright.”

The thing I always found most sexy about Shiloh still hasn’t changed in seven years. She could never be intimidated. Not by me or anyone else. So I honestly shouldn’t be surprised when she reaches behind her, pries her hair out of my grasp, and slams her fuck-me heel onto mytoe.

“Ouch! Jesus,Shiloh!”

“Was that necessary? Do you feel better about yourself?” She holds my stare, putting space in betweenus.

“Wait,I—”

“You know what, Cary? Go fuckyourself.”

I’m not sure if I’m driven by lust, obligation, or revenge, but instead of letting her go, I blurt out the one thing I shouldn’t. “He was going to take a picture of your scar and post it on theinternet.”

Coming to a dead stop, Shiloh’s hands fist by her side. “No.”

“I heard his friends laughing about it.” Disobeying everything my brain is telling me to do, my feet move toward her, and before I can stop them, my hands are on her shoulders, pulling her against me. Something resembling my name rumbles in her throat as she tries to pull away, but I holdfirm.

As activity in the bar resumes, she manages to jerk free and run to a side exit that leads to the overflow parking lot. The door barely slams behind her before I fling it back open, ready for afight.