Without thinking, she brushes her hair off her shoulder and smiles wide. “Need anything, Cord?”
“I think I’m good, Becca. Thank you,” he drawls, a kind smile flashing her way while holding on to the fury aimed at Pettis.
Pettis laughs. “I could use a beer.”
“I’ll grab it,” Becca says, tearing her eyes away from Cord. “Anything in particular?”
Pettis scans her up and down and grins. “Wanna do something after you get off?”
Cord stands, shocking everyone with his quick movement. “Nah, she doesn’t.”
“I’m pretty sure she can answer for herself,” Pettis says.
Becca’s eyes go wide, as do mine, as she watches Cord’s reaction. His All-American look just took a turn to the dark side and it’s intriguing. His jaw sets tight as he peers down at Pettis.
“Tell him, Becca. We’re going out tonight.”
“Um,” she stumbles, her cheeks heating as she obviously scrambles to stay on top of whatever it is Cord’s playing. “Yeah. Um, Cord asked me to go out later. Sorry.”
Jumping to my feet to take the attention off Becca, I flash Pettis a cheesy smile as Sharp laughs from his side.
“You’re Whitt’s old lady, aren’t ya?” he asks, taking a step to me.
“Fuck off, Sharp,” I say, holding my ground. There’s a twist of anxiety in my gut, but I override it. “No one wants you here.” I can feel Ty behind me, his energy bouncing off me.
“You might not, but what about you, Whitt?” Sharp asks, his words as piercing as his name. “Since we’re taking orders here tonight, you need anything?”
“Get out of here, Sharp,” Ty growls, moving me to the side. “This isn’t the time or the place for this.”
“What?” Pettis laughs. “You don’t want your wifey here to know you and Sharp are buds. That you were buying a little something-something off him while she was taking care of the kids at school?”
“That’s enough,” Cord rumbles, making Becca take a step back towards Jiggs.
Sharp and Pettis laugh, their voices as dirty as the fibers of the shirts covering their needle-pricked skin. “It’s hard to tell the wives sometimes, especially when you have that pretty boy image you got going on, that you are just like the rest of us.”
“Fuck you, Sharp. I never bought a fucking thing from you.”
He shrugs, a dopey grin on his face. “But you were going to. You called me. Remember that? Or is that wiped out now that princess here took you back?”
Pettis laughs again, his voice rolling through the pub. “You always thought you were better than the rest of us. The Golden Boy from Jackson, can do no wrong. I’m telling ya, kids, the golden boy has fallen from grace. Does she know about you and that redhead in Rockville, Ty?”
“What?” I gasp, looking at Ty. My attention isn’t there for long because Cord lurches forward.
“Well, I never had grace to start with,” Cord says as his fist flies through the air between them.
The sound of Cord’s hand smashing against Pettis’ face ricochets through the room. His head flops back, blood trickling from his nose, as he stumbles to stay on his feet. Sharp grabs his shoulder and steadies him.
“I warned you,” Cord says, his fists clenching at his sides.
“Hey!” Bob Gurley, the owner of the pub, says as he rushes our way. “What’s happening over here?”
“These guys were starting trouble,” Becca says, looking at Pettis and Sharp over her shoulder. “And someone put them in their place.” Her gaze flutters to Cord and he gives her a small smile.
“Get out of here, Pettis,” Bob says. “I warned you the last time you were in here all hopped up on God knows what to stay out of my business.”
“This is a free country,” Pettis says, grabbing a napkin off the table and wiping his nose.
“And this is a private business,” Bob says. “Get out.”
Pettis shoots us a dirty look as he turns on his heel and heads for the door. Before he leaves he looks over his shoulder. “You’ve opened a can of worms, McCurry. Be ready.”
“Fuck him,” Cord says, falling back in his chair. He shakes his hand before inspecting it for damage.
Ty tries to take my hand, but I shake him off. Everyone but the two of us seems oblivious to Pettis’ statement.
“I kind of stole your glory,” Cord laughs, looking at my husband. “But I warned him once. I had to follow through.”
“A man of your word,” Ty laughs.
Becca rushes up with a towel full of ice. Bending down, she takes Cord’s hand from me and lays the bundle gently on top. I take a few steps away from Ty, my head reeling.
Redhead? In Rockville? Who was that? I look at Ty and his face is pale. Let this be one of Pettis’ games. Please.
“Does this hurt?” Becca asks Cord, her elbow accidentally brushing me in the thigh.
“Feels the best it’s felt in a long time,” Cord responds.