I glance up from my papers. “Um. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?” He cocks his head to the side and his gaze narrows on me.
I set my red pen down, giving him my full attention. Here we go. “Look, Ed, I’ve already said no to going out again, and I meant it. I don’t want to argue about it with you. I don’t think we are good for each other. I’d hoped you’d understand, and we could part on relatively good terms.” I can’t help the incredulous huff I let out. “But now you’ve threatened me, and I’m not sure how you expect me to look past that.”
He scoffs, staring at me indignantly. “Back up. How are we not good for each other?”
I blink a few times. Is he insane? “I don’t like the way you treat me, Ed.” I expel a huge breath and decide it’s now or never. Conscious of the fact that anyone could walk in at any time, I whisper-shout at him. “I would also really appreciate it if you would stop threatening me, stop holding things over my head, and honor your promise to me.” My teeth clamp down so hard on my lower lip, I’m surprised I don’t draw blood. “Did you delete the photos like you keep saying you will? Because it’s pretty shitty that you told me you’d deleted them all immediately after you took them but then started sending them to me. Taunting me with the fact that you didn’t get rid of them? Really shitty, Ed. So, no, I don’t want to go to dinner with you.”
He laughs—hard—right in my face, and I can’t help but draw back, sucking in a breath as I do. His tone with me does a one-eighty as he spits out, “Let me see if I have everything right—you won’t let me take you to dinner because you’re running around fucking your student teacher. Is that accurate?”
My face pales and my throat goes completely dry.
“I can see I’m right by the look on your face. You forget I know you, Hadleigh. You’ll be lucky if I don’t put your tits and ass in an e-mail and send them to the whole damn school. You want favors now? Fuck that. And fuck you.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Sawyer steps through the doorway, bristling. “What the hell is going on here?” He’s got a good three inches on Ed, is much broader, and his expression is dark and thunderous like a storm cloud. If I were Ed, I’d be terrified. I’ve never seen Sawyer angry before, and I’m guessing it doesn’t happen all that often. He appears to be the kind that doesn’t anger easily, but when he does … Boom.
Ed, though? He’s dense and doesn’t correctly read the anger emanating from Sawyer. “Mind your own business, Rivers.”
Sawyer plants his hands on his hips, glaring at Ed as his chest rises and falls raggedly. “Are you kidding me, man? I walk in here and find you swearing at her, and you think I should mind my own business? Not happening. Even if she’s your ex, there’s no excuse for that.” His eyes bore into Ed, and he asks without looking at me, “Hadleigh, do you have anything else you want to say to him?”
“Yes.” My voice comes out stronger than I thought it would. “Yes, I want him out of here.”
Sawyer steps toward Ed. “You heard her. Get. Out.” His jaw clenches, breath coming fast.
Just then, Jake and Damon walk in discussing the merits of some book by an author I’ve never heard of. They freeze in place when they see they’ve walked right into an argument.
My face flushes red with embarrassment, and I close my eyes briefly, wishing I were anywhere else but here. When I open my eyes again, my gaze flicks over to them and then back to Ed. “Ed, you should go now.”
Sawyer’s brow lifts as he stares Ed down. He looks like he could strangle him.
Before he walks away, Ed leans close to me and whispers harshly in my ear, “How about if I show your pretty pictures to your new man? I could do that, too.” He edges back, sneers at me, and backs toward the door.
My heart hammers hard behind my ribcage. I hadn’t realized I was holding my breath until the door slams behind him and it comes out all sputtery. I try to act normally, like that didn’t just happen, but I’m sweating all over and shaking hard.
Jake’s eyes are big behind his thick glasses. I’m pretty sure the only arguing he’s ever seen in here has been between Damon and Piper, and that’s never anything serious. He clears his throat. “Um. Are you okay, Hadleigh?”
I nod, my face flaming hot, eyes trained on the gray tile flooring. “I’m okay.” I tuck my hair behind my ears and glance up to find all three men watching me with concern. I want to sink into a hole in the ground and never come back out. Why did I ever, ever think Ed was a good idea?
Damon and Sawyer exchange a quick look before Damon claps Jake on the shoulder. “Could you come talk to me in my room? I think they could use a minute.”
“Oh yeah, sure.” Jake pushes his glasses up on his nose, glancing at me one last time. “Let’s go.” They don’t hesitate more than a second before they hustle right back out.
“Sit.” Sawyer’s voice is gruff as he backs me up and makes me sit down in my chair. He pulls another chair my way and takes one hand out of my lap, holding it between his. “Hadleigh. I don’t know what’s happened between the time I left you on Saturday and now, but I want to help you, if you’ll let me. I promise I won’t be upset with whatever your answer to this question is, but I’m
