Read Online Embracing Everly by Kelly Mooney - Free Book Online Page B

you.” I heard the tension, but I refused to acknowledge it but had no choice when a few of the guys started closing in on Mick. I couldn’t have them hurt Mick because I had apparently no backbone to say no to a set of dimples that would set a pool of water into flames.
    His eyes shifted, noting them stepping forward but swung his attention back to Charlie. “Sure you do. It was just last night.”
    “You better shut the fuck up,” Charlie gritted out as he took a step closer. What? My body reacted and I sprang to action, nudging myself between the two of them. I placed one hand on Charlie’s chest and the other in the center of Mick’s. “Knock it off, Charlie. Mick is just a friend from school.” I turned to Mick. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. You should go. I can handle this.”
    He flicked his hard, piercing gaze from Charlie to me, and it immediately softened. “Angel, I’m not going anywhere. I haven’t finished my coffee or our date.”
    “Yeah, you are, asshole.” I saw his arm but before I could stop Charlie, his fist was flying past my head. Mick grabbed it mid-air, forcing the punch to hit his hand and didn’t let go of it.
    “You came two inches from her face, prick. Apologize and get out.”
    “It’s fine, Mick.”
    He threw Charlie’s arm down and yanked me to the side, holding onto my forearm. “What are you doing with him? He almost hit you because of jealousy. We’re just having coffee, Everly, imagine if it were more. What do you think he’d do to you then? You need to tell him whatever the hell it is to make him understand that you don’t love him and to go away.”
    “Mick, it’s fine. I think you should go. I’ll talk to you later.” There was no point in even discussing his last statement. It wasn’t his business to tell me what to do or how to feel about someone even if I could really use the advice.
    Charlie yanked me forcefully away from Mick. Mick ran his hands through his hair, watching like he was contemplating tossing me over his shoulder and stealing me away. I cringed seeing the angry look on Mick’s face, almost like he was tormented deciding what to do and then he wasn’t all of a sudden. “I’m leaving. You made a bad choice, Angel.”
    Mick started to walk out but stopped before exiting. “Charlie,” he called out.
    “I hear it’s two for one tonight at the strip club you were at last night, but I don’t think the girl you fucked in the bathroom will be there. Your move, asshole.”
    I was too busy trying to play out all the words in my head one by one that Mick rattled off, even the last one that challenged Charlie to some kind of warped man fight.
    “He’s lying, baby. I was there with the boys, but I swear I didn’t touch anyone, baby. Why would I when I have you? I love you. You know that.” Love? It was the first time he’d said it to me. Words I thought I’d been waiting to hear, but was almost afraid to not knowing if I could say them back. But, why I was so jealous if I didn’t love him? Why did it hurt? And, more importantly why was he saying it now? “All men are assholes.” My dad’s words taunted me. Maybe he was right, after all? Maybe they all were assholes?
    Tears were teasing my eyes, but I remained strong refusing to break down. I crossed my arms and took a stance. “Why would he say that?”
    Charlie leaned down, tipping my chin up and placed a soft kiss on my lips. “Isn’t it obvious? He wants what’s mine, and he’d do anything to screw it up. I would never cheat on you, Ev. Look at you? I don’t need to.” He wiped a tear that I was pissed was weeping from my eye. “You know me, baby. Please believe me?”
    “Yeah, okay.” I was trying to work it all out. The smell of cheap perfume that had lingered on his clothes from the night before to his friend’s watching and waiting for my reaction to us like they were waiting for him to get busted. Charlie begging me to believe him, telling me he loved me. All