All the Sauce (IceCats 4)

I swallow hard. “And you don’t know what it’s like to go from skinny to fat!”

“You’re not fucking fat!” he shouts, gaping at me. “Fuck, Angie!”

He kicks a box, shaking his head as he turns from me. The tension is thick, and when he looks back at me, I see the tears in his eyes and they gut me. “How in the hell can you love me when you don’t even love yourself?”

I pause. “I do love myself.”

“Then show me your stomach.”

“Owen, everyone has something they don’t like about themselves. Well, everyone but you.”

“Sure. But even so, when they love a person, they can share their insecurities because they know that person loves them and would never make them feel bad about those.”

“It’s not that easy for me. This is the worst part about me.”

“And that’s an issue because I don’t see it that way. I see your stomach as a place that holds the food I have to force you to eat. My favorite spot to wrap my arm around when we’re sleeping. The part you rub when you get super full and happy. Angie, it’s the place my children will grow one day, and you’re trying to tell me I can’t see that part of you?”

My lips wobble as I shake my head. I wasn’t expecting any of that. “I don’t want to lose you.”

“With all those things I just said, you still think I’m gonna leave you when I feel that way?”

I look away, tears spilling over and down my cheeks.

The air is thick with tension, and soon, he’s walking toward the door. “I need a minute.”

The door shuts, and I swallow, the emotion taking over. Why is this so hard for me? He’s basically screaming he loves all of me, and I’m fighting him on believing it. It’s not fair. It’s not right, and I do love myself. I do. I’ve fought so hard to do just that, so why can’t I love this piece of myself?

Especially with how much he loves it and he hasn’t even seen it.

I hurriedly refasten my jeans as I rush out of my room to chase him down, but before I can get to the back door, Leroy is standing there. I pause, unsure what the hell he is doing here. I told London I was coming, and they’re usually not home when I come.

His laughter runs down my spine as he shakes his head. “Won’t fuck you because you’re a fat, disgusting cow?”

I really don’t have time for this, and where the hell is London? “Fuck you, Leroy. Get out of my way.”

I move past him, but when he grabs me, I go still. I have never been afraid of him; I’ve had no reason to be. He’s a piece of shit, but I never felt in danger. That is until I meet his dark, beady eyes.

“I’ll fuck your fat ass. Come here.”

I try to pull my arm from his grip, but all I see is a body move past me like a shadow before Leroy is against the wall and Owen has him by his neck. Leroy’s eyes are wide and full of shock as Owen holds him there, glaring in his face. I don’t even have time to process what Leroy was saying or implying. I’m just stunned.

“I should kill you, you piece of shit,” Owen sneers. His shoulders are wider than normal, his face red, and his hand shakes at Leroy’s neck. “You do not talk to any woman like that, but sure as hell not the love of my life.”

“Owen, he isn’t worth it,” I plead, hearing my mom, his mom, and his dad in my head. Owen will catch a charge without even thinking twice. He can’t have a record because then he can’t volunteer for the organization. “Baby, please, we have huge plans this summer, and I don’t want you not to be able to do them because you beat his ass. He doesn’t matter. I know he’s just shit.”

But I don’t even think Owen hears me. His face is beet red, and his eyes are wild with rage.

“What in the world? Let him go!” London screams, and I hadn’t even realized she’d entered the room until our gazes meet. “Get your boyfriend, Angie!”

“I’m trying!” I plead, “Owen, please. He’s not worth it.”

“Let him go!”

Owen shakes his head. “No.” He squeezes his hand as Leroy struggles to get free, his eyes full of fear. “First, apologize to Angie.”

Leroy’s eyes widen to the size of quarters. Owen lets up his grip a little, and Leroy looks at me. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have talked to you that way.”

But then he’s gagging when Owen tightens his grip again. I cover my mouth, unsure what is about to happen. I see my career going down the drain, along with Owen’s summer plans for helping players with their mental health, all over some asshole. “Please, Owen, it’s done. It’s fine.”