Page 104 of Pick Me This Time

49

STERLING

Daphne was livid, practically shaking with rage, but I wasn’t convinced it was directed entirely at me. “What the hell are you doing? What gave you the right to intervene like that? I was finally standing up to him, Sterling. I was finally getting to have my say.”

“I’m pretty sure he was about to hit you again,” I ground out, purposely turning off before their house.

I would take her home, but I planned on taking my time doing it. She scoffed, apparently too angry to even realize we were going the wrong way all of a sudden. “What business is that of yours? I saw it coming. I would’ve dodged it.”

“That’s really not the point, Daph. I wasn’t going to stand by and watch him trying to hurt you. Besides, it seemed to me like you’d had your say.”

“It seemed to you,” she grumbled. “That doesn’t make it true. Where did you even come from?”

“I saw him following you when you left. I figured it was prudent to keep an eye on him.”

That was putting it mildly.

As soon as Eric had arrived at the festival, I’d felt the trouble brewing. Fiona had been trying to distract me with all sorts of dirty promises of what she was going to do to me later, but I’d hardly even heard her.

I’d seen Daphne get into it with her brother. Then I’d watched as she’d stormed out. Unfortunately, she’d blown right past Peter’s table and he’d noticed her, leaning in to talk to his friends before he’d taken off after her.

At that point, my heart had been thudding and my muscles had tensed, every fiber of my being bracing itself for another fight if that was what it had come to. I’d left Fiona behind without saying a single word and then I’d heard the thunder, so I’d opted for the truck instead of going after them on foot.

Since I knew Daphne well enough to know she’d be trying to go straight home, it hadn’t been hard to find them. I’d returned Eric’s truck a couple days ago, leaving it at his shop and borrowing this old scrapheap from my dad instead.

Thankfully, the thing had started tonight without giving me much trouble and I’d kept the lights off, sticking close in case Daphne needed me but not wanting to interrupt if she didn’t. With my window rolled down, I’d heard some of their fight, and when it started sounding like it was reaching its peak, I’d decided to park and get closer just in case.

All the while, I’d had bloody murder coursing through my veins. I fucking hated having to hang back, and while I knew she hadn’t necessarily needed me, I just hadn’t been able to stay out of it completely.

Daphne blew out a harsh breath. “You thought it was prudent to keep an eye on him? Why? Do you really think this is going to get you back in my brother’s good books? Unite with him against Peter as a common enemy?”

“Eric had nothing to do with this,” I said. “Think about it. If he knew I’d come after you, he would’ve been right behind us, ready to knock Peter’s dick in the dirt, too, if he tried something while you were vulnerable.”

“I’m not vulnerable,” she snapped. “I’m frustrated and angry, but I’m not vulnerable and I’m also not some innocent, naive little flower who needs to have her life controlled by men. Where are we going, anyway?”

“To your place,” I said vaguely. “Eventually.”

She spun in her seat to face me, and though I was focused on getting us around safe in the sleeting rain, I felt her narrowing her eyes and spitting daggers at me from them. “This isn’t the way to my house.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“So where are we going? I’m sure Fiona is waiting for you somewhere. Just take me home and then you can go back to her.”

Fiona again?I sighed. “Seriously? What is it with you and her? There’s nothing going on between her and I anymore and there hasn’t been for a decade, but you keep throwing her name at me like it’s a weapon.”

She snorted. “Nothing going on between you? Right.” Folding her arms, she slammed back against her seat and averted her gaze to the window instead. “Just take me home, Sterling. Please. You made me get in this truck with you and I very much don’t want to be here anymore.”

Driving out of town, I headed toward the farm. “No can do. I will take you home, but not until this is settled. Just talk to me. Tell me what’s going on.”

“What’s going on is that you’ve basically kidnapped me,” she said, exasperation lacing every word. “I don’t want to settle whatever you think we need to settle. I’m very clear on where we’re at at the moment, Sterling. Couldn’t be clearer.”

“Okay. Enlighten me, then. Where are we at?”

“Do you really need a recap?” She shook her head. “Why did you even come after me? You and I aren’t anything anymore.”

“That’s weird. I thought we were friends.” I nearly vomited at having to say it, but technically, that was what she’d said we were.

Truth be told, I’d rather have hot wax poured on my ass crack than to be just friends with this girl, but that was where I’d thought we were at. As it turned out, she didn’t believe it either, scoffing as soon as the word left my lips.