Page 177 of Always Love You More

“Shut your fucking mouth,” the man bellows, “and fight me!” He throws another punch that Jameson dodges, bouncing on his feet. “Come on.”

“Why would I?” Jameson asks.

“What?”

“Fight you,” he clarifies. “Why would I fight you? It’d be a waste of my fucking time.”

The man’s movements slow, confusion etched into his face. “But we—”

Jameson throws out a hand. “I’ve already proved my point.” He looks back at the man like he’s bored.

“What do you—”

“You think I haven’t earned shit.” Jameson steps forward. “You can’t get a hit in, and I haven’t even swung at you once.” He tips his chin toward the door. “You’re supposed to be the muscle, and that’s what you’ve got? It’s fucking pathetic.”

The man shrinks back, staring at Jameson.

“And what’s worse,” he continues, “is that you’re stupid. That you clearly don’t know when to shut your fucking mouth. Isn’t that right?”

Again, the man stares back at him, silent.

“Adrian,” he prompts, stepping forward, and the man’s eyes flash at Jameson addressing him by name. “Isn’t that right?”

Slowly, Adrian nods.

“I could have let it go,” Jameson says, “but then you went and called my girl a bitch.” He tsks. “Like I said, stupid.”

Before Adrian can register what’s happening, Jameson throws out his fist, connecting with his jaw. The man staggers back, spitting out blood.

Jameson grabs his gun, tucks it into the back of his jeans, then picks up a duffle bag he must have dropped when he came out here and walks back over to Adrian. “We still have a problem?”

“No.” Adrian shakes his head, his eyes wide. “No problem.”

“That all you gotta say?” Jameson asks, flicking his gaze over to me.

“Sorry,” Adrian says in a rush. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

I dip my head.

Jameson pats Adrian’s chest in a way that’s completely fucking degrading. “Good,” he mutters then nods toward the other gun. “Now get your shit and go back inside before I change my mind about leaving.”

Adrian scrambles over to the gun, grabbing it before pushing back through the door. It swings shut behind him, closing with a loudclick.

Jameson watches the space for a minute then turns to me. “Let’s go.”

There’s anger still radiating off of him as I wearily follow him to the car.

Just after I drop into my seat, the engine roars to life and we speed out of the parking lot.

“Jamie.”

His hands flex against the wheel.

“Talk to me.”

He glances over at me before bringing his eyes back to the road. “I told you to wait in the car.”

“Really?” I respond. “That’swhat you’ve got to say?”