Read Online Destroy You (Destroy #3) by K. D. Carrillo - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: K. D. Carrillo
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targeted to hurt them, maybe even Toni, since she was one of Kate’s best friends, but I wanted to be the one to protect her.
When Kate asked me to bartend at her wedding, I jumped at the chance to spend more time with Toni. We still talked while she was with Aiden and Becca, but I felt the distance between us building again. The wedding seemed like our chance to reconnect and maybe move forward.
I knew Toni was nervous that her parents accepted the invitation to Reed and Kate’s wedding. She said they were judgmental and she didn’t want them treating her friends badly. I figured since she and I weren’t serious—yet—she’d want me to keep my distance from her at the reception. I was okay with that because meeting parents was a big fucking deal, and I was still trying to get her to admit we were actually seeing each other.
However, I was not prepared to find her ex in attendance. Her friends didn’t much care for him and the way he treated her, but her parents didn’t have a problem with him. It still sucked to watch them pleasantly chat with the guy and try to rearrange the seating to force Toni and him together. How was I supposed to convince her to let me into her life completely if her parents were still pushing him at her?
I almost walked away from the job right then, but I realized she wasn’t paying any attention to the asshole her parents obviously wanted her to choose. Her night-dark eyes were on me every time she thought I wasn’t looking, but she always has my attention when she’s near.
I popped the caps off a few bottles of beer and passed them over to guests while continuing to watch Toni out of the corner of my eye. She was having fun taking turns dancing with Jeremy and Cameron.
Miguel had been taking swigs of something from a flask he carried in his jacket pocket. He was also watching Toni, but instead of enjoying her happiness, he scowled at the three of them and continued to drink.
The music changed to a slow, sexy song. Jeremy pulled Toni close and ran his hands down the skin exposed by the low back of her dress. It was an overtly sexual move, but I don’t think he really thought about it. They were comfortable with each other, and Jeremy was obviously a flirt by nature. It bothered me at first, but I’d come to realize if I wanted Toni, I had to accept her relationship with Jeremy. Knowing he wanted Cameron the way I wanted her made that an easy condition to agree to, if I could only convince Toni to move me completely out of the friend zone.
Miguel was apparently not as accepting. He stomped across the dance floor and ripped Toni out of Jeremy’s arms. I vaulted over the bar and headed toward her without even considering the fact Jeremy could easily put a stop to Miguel’s possessive display. By the time I made it to her, Jeremy had Miguel’s shirt twisted in his hand, and Cameron was standing in front of Toni, protecting her.
“Let go of me, fag,” Miguel shouted.
Jeremy flinched but didn’t release his hold. “Get out of here,” he warned quietly.
“Antonia?” her father said, walking over to the group with her mother behind him. Everyone was paying attention to the scene at this point. Aiden moved through the crowd, clearly ready to jump to his best friend’s assistance.
“ Sí, Papa. ”
“What is going on here?” her father asked in lightly accented English.
“ Nada , it’s just a misunderstanding,” Toni answered.
“Then tell your friend to let Miguel go. I’d like you to take Miguel and get him some coffee. The two of you have some issues to work through, it seems.”
“I’m sorry, Papa, I can’t do that. I have nothing to say to Miguel and haven’t for a year now. I think you and Mama should give him a ride home.”
Her mother stepped forward. “Antonia, do not disobey your father.”
Jeremy let go of Miguel with a slight shove. Miguel straightened and moved like he was going to make another attempt at him. Aiden and I moved to either side
When Kate asked me to bartend at her wedding, I jumped at the chance to spend more time with Toni. We still talked while she was with Aiden and Becca, but I felt the distance between us building again. The wedding seemed like our chance to reconnect and maybe move forward.
I knew Toni was nervous that her parents accepted the invitation to Reed and Kate’s wedding. She said they were judgmental and she didn’t want them treating her friends badly. I figured since she and I weren’t serious—yet—she’d want me to keep my distance from her at the reception. I was okay with that because meeting parents was a big fucking deal, and I was still trying to get her to admit we were actually seeing each other.
However, I was not prepared to find her ex in attendance. Her friends didn’t much care for him and the way he treated her, but her parents didn’t have a problem with him. It still sucked to watch them pleasantly chat with the guy and try to rearrange the seating to force Toni and him together. How was I supposed to convince her to let me into her life completely if her parents were still pushing him at her?
I almost walked away from the job right then, but I realized she wasn’t paying any attention to the asshole her parents obviously wanted her to choose. Her night-dark eyes were on me every time she thought I wasn’t looking, but she always has my attention when she’s near.
I popped the caps off a few bottles of beer and passed them over to guests while continuing to watch Toni out of the corner of my eye. She was having fun taking turns dancing with Jeremy and Cameron.
Miguel had been taking swigs of something from a flask he carried in his jacket pocket. He was also watching Toni, but instead of enjoying her happiness, he scowled at the three of them and continued to drink.
The music changed to a slow, sexy song. Jeremy pulled Toni close and ran his hands down the skin exposed by the low back of her dress. It was an overtly sexual move, but I don’t think he really thought about it. They were comfortable with each other, and Jeremy was obviously a flirt by nature. It bothered me at first, but I’d come to realize if I wanted Toni, I had to accept her relationship with Jeremy. Knowing he wanted Cameron the way I wanted her made that an easy condition to agree to, if I could only convince Toni to move me completely out of the friend zone.
Miguel was apparently not as accepting. He stomped across the dance floor and ripped Toni out of Jeremy’s arms. I vaulted over the bar and headed toward her without even considering the fact Jeremy could easily put a stop to Miguel’s possessive display. By the time I made it to her, Jeremy had Miguel’s shirt twisted in his hand, and Cameron was standing in front of Toni, protecting her.
“Let go of me, fag,” Miguel shouted.
Jeremy flinched but didn’t release his hold. “Get out of here,” he warned quietly.
“Antonia?” her father said, walking over to the group with her mother behind him. Everyone was paying attention to the scene at this point. Aiden moved through the crowd, clearly ready to jump to his best friend’s assistance.
“ Sí, Papa. ”
“What is going on here?” her father asked in lightly accented English.
“ Nada , it’s just a misunderstanding,” Toni answered.
“Then tell your friend to let Miguel go. I’d like you to take Miguel and get him some coffee. The two of you have some issues to work through, it seems.”
“I’m sorry, Papa, I can’t do that. I have nothing to say to Miguel and haven’t for a year now. I think you and Mama should give him a ride home.”
Her mother stepped forward. “Antonia, do not disobey your father.”
Jeremy let go of Miguel with a slight shove. Miguel straightened and moved like he was going to make another attempt at him. Aiden and I moved to either side
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