Page 89 of Fight For Me

She sighs. “He has a point. I do have a contract.” Her head snaps in my direction. “Not that I regret leaving. Today was amazing.”

“It was. Wish it didn’t have to end.” I clear my throat. “Uh. Where’d you tell him that you were?”

“I said I was resting at my parents’ house.” There’s a touch of defensiveness in her voice. “I told Everly the same thing, so you don’t have to worry about anyone finding out.”

I want to tell her that’s not what I meant, but she’d know it was a lie. I’m still struggling with the idea of the family knowing about us. Though after today, I’m not sure I’ll have any other choice. I don’t think I’m going to be able to walk away from her any time soon.

We’re both quiet when I pull into the parking lot, the mood definitely far more morose than it was when we left. I stay downstairs to let George pee while Alex goes up ahead of me. I’m not sure if anyone is home, so it probably wouldn’t be smart to waltz in together.

When I follow her up a few minutes later, my heart jumps into my throat at the sight in front of me. Scott is standing close to her, way too close, his face bright red with anger. He’s fucking yelling at her, right in her face, while she stands there in what I’m pretty sure is shock.

“What the hell are you doing?” I yell, moving between them. I push Alex behind me. “Get the fuck out of her face.”

He’s breathing heavily. “She’s in breach of contract.”

“She was gone for one day.”

“We don’t have one day to spare,” he snaps. “She’s supposed to be working, not out fucking her boyfriend whenever she feels like it.”

I push him back, loving the look of surprise on his face when my hands connect with his chest. I want to do it again. I want to punch him in his nasty, red little face. “Fuck you. She went home to sleep.”

He barks out a humorless laugh. “Sure. You don’t need to lie to me. We all know what’s happening here.”

“You don’t know shit.” I get up close to his face. “But know this—if you ever get that close to her again, you’re fucking dead. You don’t yell at her. You don’t threaten her. Do you understand me?”

“Wyatt?” a shaky voice asks from the door, and we both spin to see Everly and Fox standing in the doorway of the hall. “What’s going on?”

I take a deep breath, trying to calm down. “Nothing.”

“Dude, what the hell?” Fox asks. His eyes go from me to Alex. “Did something happen? Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” she says, but her voice is small and I want to kill this prick all over again for making her sound like that.

“Somebody tell me what’s going on,” Everly demands.

Scott straightens, plastering his smarmy Hollywood smile to his face. “Just some elevated tempers. No big deal.”

He’s not fooling Everly or Fox. They both open their mouths to argue but he brushes past me. “I need to get back to the office.” He leans in as he passes, voice low, just for me. “She leaves during shooting again, and I sue her ass.”

“Fuck you.”

His greasy grin makes me want to gag. “Don’t forget what I said at the opening. You want this show to make the two of you look good? Get your girl in line.”

It’s everything I can do not to throttle him but he’s already halfway to the door. I take several deep breaths, trying to get it together before turning to Alex. She looks shaken and the fear I see in her eyes makes me want to go after the asshole.

“Everything is fine,” I tell my cousins. “Scott was being a dick to Alex because she went home for the day and it pissed me off.”

“What do you mean he was being a dick?” Fox demands, turning to her. “Did he hurt you?”

“He just yelled at me.” I can tell she’s trying to sound casual, but she can’t pull it off. She’s clearly shaken. “It’s no big deal. Wyatt overreacted.”

I glare at her but her eyes plead with me to let it go.

“I don’t like this,” Everly says, crossing her arms. “I’m not working with someone who treats you badly.”

“Same,” Fox agrees. “In fact, I want to follow that asshole out and kick his ass.”

God, that’s tempting. But Alex’s eyes are still pleading with me to make this better. “It’s late,” I force out. “Everyone should get to bed.”