CHAPTER 20
MADOC
I almost abandoned my whole plan the minute I held her in my arms, the second I touched her lips, the instant she moaned my name.
But there was no way in hell I was going to watch her walk again. No, not this time. I’d be the one to leave.
And the corner of my mouth turned up as I made my way through the crowd. She was as stiff as an ice cube when I took her from Aidan, and then she’d melted like liquid in my arms. Now she was a puddle all over the dance floor.
I am the man.
Who cares that she looked like sex standing up on that stage? Or that I’d been a little jealous when Aidan started dancing with her? Or ready to kill him when I caught sight of his hand inside the back of her shirt?
Fuck him, and fuck her.
“Fuck you!” Ashtyn screamed at me as I came back to the table. I saw her rear her hand back, and I ducked out of the way just before her hand would’ve landed across my cheek.
“Seriously?” I held up my hands, laughing. “Calm down. It was just a joke.”
I guessed she’d seen the kiss.
“You’re an asshole!” she shouted and stomped out of the bar.
People around us chuckled, including Jax, while Jared shook his head and Tate scowled.
“Oh, please,” I begged sarcastically. “You missed me, and you know it.”
Tate rolled her eyes and stood up, straightening her shirt. “I thought I did.” Looking around, she sighed. “You boys play nice. I’m going to go dig Fallon out of the bathroom.”
I didn’t know how Tate saw her head to the back of the bar through the clusters of people, but she was up and gone in no time, pushing through dancers, in search of her friend. Taking a seat, I downed the rest of my beer and lurched forward when Jax slapped me on the back.
“You’re not going after either one of them?” he asked, locking his fingers behind his head and leaning on the back legs of the chair.
“Tate and Fallon?” I peered over at him. “I think they can take care of each other.”
“No, I meant Fallon or Ashtyn. Isn’t Ashtyn your girlfriend?”
Girlfriend. The word made me want to dunk my head in mud and not come up for air until I was dead.
“No.” I looked back to the dance floor. “When do I have girlfriends?”
I locked eyes with Jared across the table, and he didn’t speak. He said enough with his eyes, though.
He knew something was going on, and he knew I was off the rails. But like a good friend, he didn’t feel the need to state the obvious.
Just knowing he was there, and that he got it, helped.
I caught sight of Tate’s red T-shirt coming out of the crowd, and I sat up straight when I noticed that she was alone.
“Well,” she sighed, putting her hands on her hips, “I guess we can head out. I’m done for the night.”
She smiled down at Jared, a look going on between them that said they weren’t done for the night. But I was confused.
“Where’s Fallon?” I asked.
Tate busied herself, slinging her purse across her chest, barely meeting my eyes. “Oh, Fallon? Yeah, she’s . . . I guess . . . heading out to another bar with that guy that was sitting here before. What was his name? Aidan?”
Anger radiated out of my pores, and my eyebrows pinched together painfully.
“What?” What the fuck?
Tate finally looked my way and fixed her lips into a thin line, looking like it was no big deal. “Yeah.” She shrugged. “I went to grab her from the bathroom, and she was chatting with him in the hall. They headed out the back way.”
I pushed out of my seat, glaring at Tate.
She left with him? Hell, no.
Without so much as a good-bye, I headed out of the bar and through the door. Coming out to the sidewalk, I stopped and twisted my head to the left and right.
Where the hell was she?
Oxygen flooded in and out of my lungs in heavy breaths.
To the left was nothing but darkness. To the right was the strip of college bars where he would’ve taken her.
I turned left first. Aidan wasn’t a creeper. I had no reason to suspect that he’d lure her somewhere quiet and try anything, but it felt like the better option to make sure before I searched the populated and somewhat safer public bars.
I pounded the pavement, the town getting quieter the farther I walked.
Son of a bitch.
I was going to find her, punch him, and then fix Tate’s car, so Fallon could get the hell out of town. Tonight.
I messed with her on the dance floor, kissed her almost beyond my own control, and then thought she’d stay invisible and quiet?
Why didn’t I just let her leave this afternoon like she wanted?
In the three or so months since I’d last seen her, I’d been doing fine. Sure I wasn’t happy, but like before, I got over the separation and moved on with my life. However dull it was.
Now, she had me chasing her down and in knots.
I was Madoc Caruthers. I don’t get mad, and I don’t chase women that don’t want to be chased.
But I couldn’t let her go with him. That wasn’t happening.
The sharp glow from the streetlights illuminated the whole area, and so far I’d seen no one resembling Fallon. A few couples here and there. Some drunk students stumbling around together.
Stopping at a corner I looked left again and let out a breath, finally spotting her. Her legs moved briskly, and she disappeared under the shadow of trees, shielding the moon’s light. But I knew it was her. That damned ripped shirt.
Digging in my heels, I walked as fire and anger urged my legs forward. I wanted to run. To race up behind her, throw her over my shoulder, and take her home.
My voice was deep and bitter as I shouted. “Where are you going?”
She spun around, stopping and scowling at me. “You followed me?” she accused.
I ignored the question. “Where are you going?” I asked again.