"Yo, P," Bennett calls out with a laugh. "Show him who's boss, yeah?"
Unbelievable. My lips press into a tight line as I spin back around, catching Liam glaring at his former friends before directing it at Parker. "You're the one who should stay away from Sawyer. She's mine."
That has my mouth falling in disbelief. What the hell? Did he just claim me like I’m his property?
"Now, he's really asking for a beating," Jamie sneers.
"Rich of you to stake a claim after cheating on her," Parker drawls. "What, did my sloppy seconds bore you already?"
"Oh, shit," Bennett cackles. "He's not fucking around."
"Go to hell, Parker," Peyton hisses, blushing from the ooohs and laughter ringing from the crowd, then turns to Liam, "Liam, let's go."
But she goes ignored again. Both guys refuse to back down and walk away.
"Fuck you and your high horse, Parker," Liam spits. "You act like you're so much better than everyone else when we both fucking know your life is absolute shit." A vicious smirk breaks out on his face. "Absentee dad, junkie m—"
Liam isn’t able to finish what he’s saying. A punch meets his face, causing him to stumble and fall on his ass.
I stand above him, adrenaline coursing through me, my right hand throbbing from the impact. Because I just did that—I suckerpunched Liam.
"Oh my God!" someone screams—probably Peyton. "Are you out of your mind?!"
"Holy shit!" someone howls—likely Bennett.
But I can't be sure. I can barely hear anything past the thundering of the pulse in my ears. Just as my knees start to buckle, someone grabs my hand and pulls me away from the scene. Dazedly, I simply go along with them.
I punched my ex-boyfriend. That really happened. My aching hand is proof of that. I don't know what came over me in that moment, but I can't find myself regretting it even for one second.
"Get out." The order comes from a deep, masculine voice beside me.
That’s when I realize that it was Parker who took me from the scene and led me straight to the kitchen.
The few who are there quickly scramble off at his command.
When it’s just the two of us, he pulls out a chair and motions for me to sit. When I do, he mutters, "Wait here," before walking off to the fridge in the corner. What’s he going to do?
"Oh my God, Sawyer, are you okay?" Quinn comes barreling into the kitchen with a worried look on her face, drawing my attention.
Behind her is Brayden who’s grinning from ear to ear. "I can't believe you punched Liam."
I give him a faint smile. "That makes two of us."
Pulling up a chair, Quinn sits next to me and holds my hand—thankfully, the one that isn’t aching. "This is all my fault." She shoots a look in Parker's direction and lowers her voice. "I shouldn't have grilled you about last night."
"Here." Parker is right in front of me again before I can respond to Quinn, handing over a frozen bag of peas.
I wrinkle my nose at it. "What's that for?"
He sighs impatiently. "It can help with the ache and prevent your knuckles from swelling. Take it."
I roll my eyes at his domineering command but grab it from him just the same, gently pressing it against the back of my hand and hissing at the chilly touch on my skin.
"Do you want us to take you to the hospital?" Brayden asks, wincing as he stares at my affected hand.
I shake my head. "There's no need for that. I didn't even break any bones."
Thankfully, I was wise enough to keep my thumb outside my fist when I punched Liam. Otherwise, I'd already have requested to be taken to the hospital.
"Remind me not to piss you off, Pretty Girl."
We all snap our heads to see Jamie, Bennett and Giovanni standing a few feet away.
Bennett whistles. "That was pretty fucking epic, gorgeous." He smirks at me. "I have to say, I didn't know you had it in you."
Quinn rolls her eyes as she straightens up to her full five-seven frame, facing him. "Serves you right for underestimating her. But then, isn't that what you always do—underestimate girls?"
I meet Brayden's wide eyes. Are we finally going to find out the real deal between them?
Bennett stalks forward, stopping when he’s just mere inches away and towering over her, their gazes clashing.
Quinn doesn't even flinch. She tilts her chin up in defiance. "What? Did I lie?"
He continues to crowd her until her back hits the island behind her. "Is that what you think? That I underestimated you?"
She puts her hands on his chest to push him off, but he remains unmoved. Scowling, she snaps, "Move."
"Answer me first," he growls.
The air in the room is thick with tension. I can practically cut it with a knife.
Glancing around, I notice Parker watching their exchange with zero emotion on his face. While Giovanni has his eyebrows raised at Jamie, as if to silently ask if the latter has any idea about what's going on with Bennett and Quinn.
A casual shrug is Jamie's only response. He doesn't know, either.
Brayden simply looks fascinated.
Again, that makes the two of us.
"That's enough. Everyone, leave us," Parker orders in a tone that brooks no argument, effectively cutting the tension between Quinn and Bennett.
As they start to pile out of the room, I rise from the chair to follow them.
But he curls his fingers around my arm, stopping me without uttering a word.
Quinn and Brayden fall behind, shooting us inquisitive glances.
"Give me a minute," I tell them. When they’re finally out of earshot, I glance up at Parker. "What do you want?"
He motions to the chair I just vacated. "Sit."
I scowl. "You need to stop ordering people around."
He rolls his eyes. "Fine. Then don't." But his features soften when he takes my hurt hand in his and gently flips it over. "Does it still
