Page 37 of Worth the Fall
He ripped his arm from my grasp.
My sweet boyfriend. In Chicago, the most exciting thing he ever did was golf on the weekends. He never raised his voice, never argued, and now it was like a completely different person. He raised his finger, holding it an inch away from my nose. His face was as red as a tomato, the vein in his neck looking dangerous. “You’re a lying slut.”
I took a step back in surprise, tears filling my eyes.
“Hang on there, Chicago,” a Southern accent jumped in. Once again, I was staring at the back of Colton’s head as he stood between me and Harrison. He was taller than Harrison, at least half a foot, if not more. “That’s enough. It’s time for you to leave.”
Harrison shoved Colton back hard, but he only stumbled once before catching himself. “What are you going to do about it, hick?”
Colton rubbed his eyes, as if he were too tired to deal with his stubbornness. “I’m not gonna ask you nicely again.”
I put my hand on Colton’s shoulder, pulling him back gently. “Harrison, it’s time to go.”
“Listen to her,” Colton echoed. “Keep your dignity and go home.”
“Oh, now you get to tell me what to do?” Harrison turned, as if he couldn’t bear to look at either of us anymore. “I don’t think so.”
He turned quickly, his fist raised. Colton ducked instinctively. I barely had time to register what was happening before I felt Harrison’s knuckles crash against my face.
“Ally!”
An explosive, searing pain erupted in my cheek. Surprised, I fell back, landing on my butt.
“Alright, buddy, time to go,” Jimmy ordered.
My hand went to my cheek, covering half of my face.
“Ally, are you alright?”
Colton was crouched in front of me, concern and surprise written on his face. My mouth hung open in utter shock at what had happened. I glanced up to see Jimmy ordering Dean and Alan to haul Harrison out of the restaurant.
Harrison was shouting, threatening to call the police, but they slammed the door the second he was outside.
I still hadn’t answered Colton, who gently tapped my knee with his pointer and middle fingers to pull me back. I turned my attention to him. “I’m fine,” I whispered. “I’m fine.”
“I am so terribly sorry, Ally,” he whispered back. “I-”
I took my hand away from my cheek and held it up to stop him. “Please don’t apologize, I already feel terrible for getting you involved. If you apologize, I will feel more guilty.”
He had a small smile on his lips. “Can I help you up?”
I nodded, and he held out his calloused hand. I took it, feeling my palm get swallowed in his. He pulled me to my feet with ease and didn’t let go. I stared deep into his gaze, not able to pull myself away.
He had some stubble on his face, making him even more handsome, if that was possible. His crooked smile was still plastered on his face as he sighed contentedly. I felt blood rush to my cheeks.
I finally pulled my hand away when Jimmy, Alan, and Dean wandered behind him. I tucked my hair behind my ears. “I amsosorry.”
“That’s quite a shiner,” Alan said quietly.
I gave a quizzical look before Colton pointed to his own face. I reached into my forgotten purse and pulled out my mother’s rose-embroidered compact. The small mirror dusted with powder did not make me feel any better about the situation.
My left eye was growing more swollen by the second, and a small cut had split open on my cheek. I slammed the compact shut and took a long breath, ready to give another long apologetic speech.
I never got the chance.
“Are you okay?” Colton asked again, resting his twitching hand on a chair.
I had never been more embarrassed in my life. I had a throbbing pain in my cheek, and I wanted to crawl under thecovers for the next week. “I promise, I’m okay. I just want to go back to my hotel. I’m going to go call a cab.”
