Page 147 of Unwritten Rules

He produces another bottle of water, wets an unmarked corner of the towel, and gently cleans my face as I hiss quietly when he accidentally brushes over the open gash.

“End it.”

My eyes find Henry’s. “She already did.”

As Alex returns with a Steri Strip, Henry rolls his eyes skyward.

“For fuck’s sake. Keep your head in the game, man.”

I blink stupidly at him, and he smacks my cheek twice, his eyes intent on mine.

“The fight, Nate. End the damn fight.”

I nod mutely while Alex checks the wound. “It’s stopped bleeding already. I’ll have to push the edges together before I can—”

“The fuck, Al? You in med school by night in Manhattan or what?”

Alex shakes his head good-naturedly. “No, idiot. Your wife and I are avid fans of Grey’s Anatomy, so…yeah.”

My eyes meet first Henry’s, then Caden’s, before the three of us dissolve into laughter. I wince when the laughter hurts my rapidly bruising ribcage.

“Grey’s Anatomy, Al? Seriously?”

The younger DeMarco shrugs as he applies the Steri Strip. “Knew what to do all the same while you stood there with your fucking thumb up your ass!”

He stands back to admire his handiwork as Harold steps forward for the fifth and final time tonight. “Toe the line, gentlemen.”

Satisfied that his job is done, Alex sits back in his seat as Cade slaps me on the shoulder. “Knock that prick the fuck out, Nate.”

Once he, too, has returned to his seat, it’s just Henry and me silently looking anywhere but at each other.

“Thank you.”

His eyes fly to mine at my softly spoken words. “What for?”

“Not kicking my ass.”

He snorts. “Not kicking your ass yet, Hawthorne. There’s plenty of time to—”

“I worship her, Henry. She’s the most special person in my life – I won’t lose her.”

The unspoken threat lies beneath the surface of my declaration.

I won’t lose her. I will fight to keep her. And you won’t take her from me.

He holds my eyes for a long beat, his gaze turbulent as an inner war rages until he pulls me to him, embracing me quickly.

His mouth whispers beside my face, “We’ll talk later. But, for now, gather yourself together because this fight is not going your way.”

Pulling back, he clasps my face in his hands, shaking me slightly.

“Remember. His left side is unguarded after he strikes. Take your shot then, and make it count.”

Without missing a beat, I place my hands on his cheeks. “Always, brother.”

He nods once before stepping away, moving back to his seat while I toe the line to find a glowering Jameson.

“Kissed and made up, then? Aww, shucks. How sweet!”