Written in the Scars(16)

Pettis doesn’t see me and I want to keep it that way. Lindsay is sitting behind them, a look of mortification on her face because she knows, as much as I do, that if Elin were clear-minded, she’d never give Pettis the time of day. He came on to her once at the Coal Festival and she gave him such a dressing down right smack dab in the middle of the Cake Walk that he fled the scene.

No, if Elin was sober, this wouldn’t be happening. Not even close.

I nod at Lindsay, letting her know I’m apprised of the situation, and then spot a table in the corner behind a potted tree.

“So, we’re just gonna sit here and drink a beer and watch this bullshit?” Cord asks. “You f*cking serious right now, Whitt?”

“Yup.”

Looking around the room, I see Jiggs walking their way. He spies his sister with Pettis and cracks his hands in front of him.

“Seriously, Ty?” Cord asks. “You’re gonna just let this go down?”

Pettis stands a few feet from Elin as she tries to take a shot. She misses terribly, her giggle floating through the pub and to my ears.

“Yeah. I am.”

“Why?”

“Because.”

“That’s a fourth grade answer.”

He’s right, but I don’t explain. I just want to see what happens. She deserves some space to have a good time, and right now, besides being with Shane Fucking Pettis, there’s nothing I can say.

Elin downs what appears to be an entire bottle of beer. Jiggs says something to her and she tries to poke him in the chest but misses. He grabs her arm and steadies her.

My throat is burning, my hands itching to take the bottle away and shake some sense into her. This isn’t Elin. She’s not a beer drinker or a girl to make a fool out of herself. She’s never been this way.

Pettis slides up to her again, his arm going around her waist as he takes her stick away. He leans them both up against the table and whispers in her ear. She leans her head on his shoulder, her lashes fluttering closed.

“You were right, Cord,” I scoff. My chair screeches as it goes sailing behind me.

“What about?”

“I can’t handle seeing her with another guy.”

I start across the room. Out of my peripheral vision, I see Jiggs stand.

They’re facing away, almost at the door, when I finally reach them. Pettis’ hand is resting on the small of Elin’s back.

Reaching out and wrapping my hand around his forearm, I squeeze as hard as I can and jerk it away from her, my fingers searing into his flesh.

“What the f*ck?” he yelps, swinging around to see me. Instead of being smart and correctly reading the situation, he smirks.

He’s always been a dumb motherf*cker.

“Hey, Ty. What’s happening, man?”

“Do yourself a favor and head on out of here.” My tone lacks any warmth whatsoever, yet it carries the red-hot fury coursing through my veins.

Elin flinches. “What are you doing, Ty?”

“Saving you a bunch of embarrassment.”

“I know what I’m doing,” she fires back, teetering a little. “He’s taking me home.”

“When you can say that without slurring the words, sweetheart, I’ll believe you.”

Shane laughs and starts to reach for her again. I cut the distance between us in half. Looking down and as far into his eyes as possible, I try to drive home the severity of this situation.

“Touch her again, motherf*cker. I dare you,” I growl. “I have no problem with going to jail tonight.”

“Ty!” Elin nearly yells, trying to shove me back. Instead, she falls head first into my chest. The feel of her body against mine, even if it’s on accident, is enough to make me lose my breath for a quick second.

Pettis reaches for her, but stops when he sees my face.

“Get the hell out of here, Pettis,” I snap, lacing my fingers through Elin’s. She tries to pull away, but my grip is too strong.

“Why are you doing this?” she asks, her eyes filling with tears as she stops to remove her hand from mine. Her shoulders slump, her lips tremble. “What do I look like to you? Some piece of property you own?”

“No,” I say, pulling her to my side. “You look like my wife.”

“I’m not your wife,” she whispers, her eyes struggling to stay open. “Not anymore . . .”

Pettis laughs and turns away. “Have fun with that.” He’s out the door, Cord on his heels, before I can say another word.

“How many beers did she have?” I ask Lindsay.

“Four.”

“And how did you think you were going to handle that?” I ask Elin, shaking my head at her stupidity. The realization of what would be happening to her this very second if I hadn’t walked in makes me want to come undone at the seams. “Do you have any idea what he would’ve done to you? What in the world has gotten into you?”

“Why do you care who or what is getting in me?” she asks, yawning.

I grit my teeth, trying to contain my temper. “Careful, E.”

“Just leave me alone.”

“I’m not leaving you like this?”

“Why? That’s what you’re best at.”

“We can discuss this when we get you home, if you’d like,” I growl.