Page 125 of When In Doubt

“I heard you were finished,” Jenna winks as she and Justin approach.

Freya gives her an awkward smile and I watch as her ears turn pink. “I’m just gonna go use the bathroom,” she says to me, shuffling off her stool.

“You good?” I go to catch her hand but she darts out of my reach.

“Yup!” She smiles. “I’ll be right back.”

I want to go after her, but I don’t want to make things worse, so I just watch her disappear into the crowd.

Mack smiles. “She really knows her stuff.”

“Yeah, she’s great.”

“What’s her deal?” Justin slurs. Christ, when did he get this drunk? I don’t even know what drink he’s on, but it’s clearly getting to him.

Is he serious? “What deal?” My voice is hard, cold.

“You know what I mean, right?” He looks around the table for backup. Mack gives him one of his Captain stares that says shut the fuck up. “Like, she seems sweet and everything, but a little…”

“A little what?” Justin tends to be an asshole, usually a harmless one, but him being an ass about Freya? That’s not going to slide.

“You know.” He leans forward, whispering conspiratorially. “She’s kinda creepy.”

Something icy, and a little scary comes over me. My fingernails bite into my palms and I look down, not realizing I was clenching my fists so hard.

“Shut your mouth, right the fuck now.” Nobody speaks about Freya like that, not ever.

“Murph, come on!” he splutters, taking another deep pull of his drink. “You can’t tell me you don’t see it. Like, who the hell wears headphones to a bar?”

“What does it matter to you? She’s been nice to you all night, even when you’ve been a fucking asshole,” I seethe.

“Dude! She’s fucking weird! And, not gonna lie, it’s kind of weird that you’re so into her.”

“The fuck does that mean?”

“She’s like a kid or something.”

I take the drink out of his hands and slam it down on the table, hard enough that half the liquid sloshes out. Justin goes to grab for it, but Mack places a firm hand on his shoulder, keeping him in his seat.

“Come on, Justin.” Mack stands, his expression leaving no room for argument. “Let me call you a cab. I think it’s time you called it a night.” Mack takes his arm in a firm grip and pulls him to standing.

Justin struggles in his hold before raising his arms in surrender. “I’m sorry, okay?” he whines. “I’m just trying to look out for you.”

“And which part of the bullshit you just spewed was supposed to be ‘looking out for me’?”

“She just gives me a weird vibe. Like, the way she stares, it’s like she’s gonna kill you in your sleep or something.”

That’s enough. I round the table, not caring who’s in my way. When I reach Justin, I yank him away from Mack, pressing him back against the table and letting every ounce of rage I’m feeling show on my face. Justin pales, finally realizing the mess he’s gotten himself into.

“Murph, man,” he babbles.

“Shut the fuck up, you piece of shit.” I’m practically spitting. “You say one more word about my girlfriend and I’ll break your fucking arm.”

“Okay, that’s enough, Murphy.” Mack puts a hand on my chest and pushes me back, away from Justin who takes the opportunity to storm away from the table, shoving through the crowd to get outside. Part of me wants to follow him, but I force myself to calm down. He’s not worth it. Mack gives Jenna a nod, gesturing for her to follow Justin. “Make sure that dumbass doesn’t walk into traffic.”

I shake away from Mack.

Fuck.