Andy grabbed Callum’s arm as he passed, twisting it up behind his back and pushing him up against the wall. Callum’s face smacked into the hardboard paneling as Andy pinned him in place, pain shooting up his arm.
“Careful,” Andy breathed in his ear. “That was almost assault. Wouldn’t that be a violation of your probation?”
Callum breathed heavily through his nose, his temper rising with every heartbeat. Just as he was sure he wasn’t able to rein it in any longer, Andy let him go and stepped back. Slowly, Callum turned to face him, flexing his hand and ignoring the dull ache in his elbow. He glanced at Andy out of the corner of his eye and turned to head straight for the door.
“I saw her the other day, on the street. She didn’t see me, but I got a good look at those skinny little legs in action. Much hotter than the wheelchair – you can tell her I said that, too.”
Callum stopped in his tracks, one hand on the door, not daring to turn around. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end. His lungs felt like they were sitting in his throat.
“I mean, there’s no doubt that the sex would still be weird, but I’m willing to bet that she could do other things just as well as normal chicks – maybe even better. I mean, is it kinda like blind people having great hearing? Y’know, other senses compensating for the one that’s gone? Something like that.”
Callum’s teeth clenched together so hard he thought his jaw was going to break. The image of Andy anywhere near Ally made his skin crawl. He turned around to face him, barely able to contain his temper. His face felt like it was on fire as they circled each other in the small bathroom. Callum’s fists clenched in anticipation. What he wouldn’t give to knock that cocky smile right off his ugly face.
Andy raised his eyebrows at him and threw his hands up in mock surrender, almost inviting him to hit him. Callum seriously considered it for a moment. Then he realised what was happening and knew he had to get out of there. Andy had positioned himself in front of the door again, smiling.
“Get out of my way,” he hissed, elbowing him aside and shoving the men’s room door open so hard it rebounded off the wall.
He stopped in his tracks as the door swung behind him. Jack stood at the bar, beer untouched in front of him.
“Hey!” Andy yelled, addressing Harry, the bartender. “You can’t do that – that was assault! Did you see that?”
“See what?” Harry turned his back and ambled down to the other end of the bar. Callum couldn’t help but smirk. Harry, in his usual straightforward way, was letting Andy know exactly what he thought of him. After what happened in court, Andy didn’t have many friends in here.
“He pushed me!”
Callum ignored him as he walked towards the bar stool he had vacated minutes earlier, reaching for his jacket.
Jack nodded at the half-finished beer on the bar in front of Callum. “I’ve never known you to walk away from a beer.”
“Yeah well, times change.”
“Hey!” Andy called. “Ferguson! We’re not done yet!”
Callum could feel the anger welling up inside him. He pushed open the door out into the street and fished his car keys out of his pocket.
“Ferguson!”
He heard the door creak open again behind him, Andy’s voice hanging in the cool night air. Sighing, he stopped. Clearly, this wasn’t going to just go away.
“What do you want?” he demanded, turning to face him.
Andy smiled, happy to have his full attention again. The street was deserted. Could he risk it? It’d certainly be worth it.
“Look, I can see why you’re sweet on her. I mean, she’s pretty, and with her legs being all screwed up like that, she’d be grateful for the attention. But if you don’t make a move soon, I’m gonna beat you to it and you’ll have no one to blame but yourself.”
“I’m not gonna tell you again. Stay away from her.”
“Or what?”
Callum’s fists clenched at his side. “You don’t want to know.”
“Sounds like a threat to me,” Andy chuckled.
“Whatever, man,” Callum turned his back on him again. Andy’s hand on his shoulder immediately sent his blood pressure soaring but before he could react, Andy had spun him around to face him.
“I’m not done with you, Ferguson.”
“Take your hands off me, you piece of shit!” Callum growled, shrugging his hand off him and taking a step closer in one fluid movement. “If you ever touch me again, I’m not going to be responsible for what happens to you, understand? I will do jail time for what I do to you and it’ll be freakin’ worth it, got that?”