When he hears them, Ralph’s hands fist at his sides and his face begins to redden. “Don’t give me that cutesy little‘Hi, Ralph.’”He takes a step closer to me, and I feel Green Eyes tense at my side. I notice his hand hasn’t let my arm. “Want to explain who the hell this guy is and why the hell you were kissing him like a little slut in front of the whole fucking world?”
My spine snaps straight and, though I can’t see him, I actually feel the anger pouring off Green Eyes. I hear the overhead announcer giving a play-by-play of what has, by this point, become a huge spectacle.
Well, folks, there’s always plenty of drama on the court during a playoff game, but tonight it seems there’s just as much happening on the sidelines!
I try to ignore him and focus on defusing the situation before it becomes national news and ends up — if it hasn’t already — on YouTube for the rest of eternity.
“You were on the phone, and the kiss-cam—” I start.
Ralph cuts me off. “Oh, I was on the phone for two seconds—”
“Try two hours,” I mutter.
“—and godforbidno one’s paying attention to Gemma for a single minute of the day!” Ralph sneers. “I swear, you need more validation than a preteen girl on her period.”
I flinch.
Ralph steps closer and his voice drops to the condescending whisper I’m all too familiar with. “I’d always heard artists were self-absorbed, butyou…” He shakes his head and a smirk twists his lips. “Then again, can you really even call yourself an artist if you’ve never sold a single one of your stupid paintings?”
That’s low, even for him.
I try — and fail — to bite my tongue. “I don’t know, Ralph, can you really even call yourself a man if your sexual stamina hasn’t improved since your wet-dream years?”
“Good one, Gemma.” He smiles, but it’s laced with a cruel edge. “You know, Susie from 3B doesn’t seem to mind. And Emily from the building next door? She’s never complained. Especially not last night, when I nailed her in your apartment.”
I feel my face pale. The hand on my arm tightens reflexively, but I barely notice.
“Twice.” Ralph grins, beyond pleased with himself. “You know, Gem, you really shouldn’t leave your key under the mat.”
“You—” I swallow. “You were—”
“Cheating on you?” He takes another step forward, so only a foot or so separates us. “Oh, Jesus, Gemma. Did you really think we were exclusive? Hell, I would’ve ended things after our first date but…” He shrugs and his eyes drop lasciviously to my chest. “You’re hot. And you live ten feet from me. Doesn’t get mucheasierthan you.”
The double meaning in his words is not lost on me. I feel myself beginning to fall apart, and bite my lower lip so the tears gathering in my eyes don’t escape.
Ralph laughs and leans closer. “These tickets were just the icing on the cake. The fact that I’ve been screwing you for the past four months—”
I never get to hear the rest of his insult because, in a motion so fast my eyes can barely track it, Green Eyes’ hand flies out and locks around Ralph’s windpipe in a bruising grip that cuts off all sound from escaping and all air from entering.
My mouth falls open.
Holy shit.I’d completely forgotten he was still standing by my side.
For a few seconds, Ralph tries futilely to escape, but when Green Eyes takes another step forward and drags his body up so he’s balanced on the tips of his sneakers, Ralph goes limp as a rag doll and his eyes flash with panic and fear. He looks like a terrified mouse caught in the paws of a massive lion.
Green Eyes is so tall, he has to lean down a half-foot to bring his face level with Ralph’s. His body radiates controlled power, but I can see his face is composed in a blank mask. Only his eyes, somehow simultaneously cold as ice and burning bright with fury, reveal the depths of his anger.
His face is centimeters from Ralph’s when he opens his mouth and growls one word that sends chills racing down my spine.
“Enough.”
Chapter Five
Something
I’m running.
Which isn’t the easiest feat in a skintight satin dress, let me tell you.