Page 92 of Defend Her Heart

Bile threatens to creep up my throat. This can’t be happening. After the day I’ve had, this is too much for me to freaking handle.

He still has the same haircut, far too much gel in it for any human. He’s wearing a fucking scarf, which is a new accessory, and it only amplifies how absolutely ridiculous he looks. But then I look up at his eyes. The same cold, lifeless eyes that looked down on me for the past two years stare at me again.

Hatred fills my veins to the point where I don’t know if it’s my POTS or the absolute disgust I feel for the man standing in front of me causing me to shake.

Sadie spins on her heel and looks Bryan up and down. “Ew.”

The one word breaks the spell I’m in, and I snort.

Bryan rolls his eyes. “I was thinking the same thing.” He peers around Sadie to me. “I read a really great article about you today.”

The hand not holding my ice cream clenches at my side. Anger rises, and I fight back the urge to take a step and slug him in the face.

“Why am I not surprised you found a new player to take advantage of? You even got knocked up to lock this one down. Bravo.” He claps slowly three times before taking a step closer to me.

Sadie sidesteps in front of him, blocking his path to me.

“You’re going to want to back the hell up.”

Bryan halts his movements but he’s not done. “Call off your guard dog. I just want to talk.”

My watch vibrates indicating that my heart rate is rising at a dangerous speed, reaching levels that will have me lightheaded within minutes.

No, no, no. Not here. Not in front ofhim.

“Let’s go, Avery.” Sadie loops her arm through mine and we take off down the sidewalk. If it wasn’t for her, I’m sure I would’ve stood there all night and taken his verbal lashing. My body always shut down when he was spewing his nasty words, and I fell right back into old habits the moment I saw him.

We’re ten feet away from the apartment entrance when I hear his voice again.

“I’ll make sure to tell your baby daddy to run like hell tomorrow when I see him. Poor bastard has no idea what type of crazy he’s getting into.”

We finally make it into the building, and that’s when I collapse.

The moment I got the alert that Avery’s heart rate was spiking, I sprinted down to the lobby. I have no idea where the hell she and Sadie went, but they can’t be too far. Both of their cars were parked out front when I got back from practice, so they probably walked somewhere nearby. I dial her number for the third time and just like the first two times, it goes unanswered.

“Where are you, baby?” I’m pacing the lobby now, debating dialing her for a fourth time when I see the doors of the building open.

Sadie is wearing a look of horror on her face, clutching Avery’s arm when they make it inside. And then when I look at Avery, I see it. Her face is pale as snow and her eyes are wide, as if she just saw a ghost.

My feet move immediately. I’m an arm’s length away when her eyes flutter closed and she falls to the ground.

Not again.

I dive to the ground just in time to get a hand under her head before it connects with the floor. Sadie is on her knees, her arms under Avery helping to brace her for the fall as well. Now that I know this sometimes happens, I’m not freaking outas much as I did the first time, but I still don’t like this. Watching her crumble to the floor, helpless, breaks something inside of me. I can only hope this is the last time I ever have to bear witness to her fainting like this.

“Avery, wake up, baby.” She doesn’t wake up, and I see Sadie start stroking her arm trying to make her try to come to as well.

“We ran into her ex outside.”

My head snaps up. “Youwhat?”

Sadie shoots me a sympathetic look. I clench my jaw, wanting to run outside to find the bastard but Avery is my priority. I’m pushing the hair off her forehead gently when her eyes begin to flutter open.

The doorman rushes to us with a bottle of water and towel, handing it to us in a rush. “Here. Did she hit her head? Should I call an ambulance?”

Sadie handles the doorman, explaining that she’s going to be okay, and I keep my focus on the beautiful woman below me.

“Welcome back, Aves.” I continue to stroke her hair until she gains enough strength to sit up. I scoot in close behind her to give her support if she needs to lean on me. She drops her head back against my shoulder and I kiss the side of her head.