Tight

“I have to do this.” God, my fingers itched to touch her, to pull her in close. “It’ll be over soon enough.”

“Best listen to nerd girl.”

I clenched my jaw, still staring at Kennedy.

This fucker was going down.

I felt my muscles tighten, a once familiar feeling from when I’d gotten into fights for the sheer fun of it.

Well, here we go.

And then Brandon charged forward and slammed his body into mine, momentarily taking me off-guard from his sudden movement. I took the force and steadied myself for only a second before I slammed back into him. Brandon stumbled back and swung, his anger making his actions sloppy as fuck.

This should be over soon enough.

Brandon went to swing again and I ducked and brought my fist up, clipping him under the chin. He stumbled back, rubbing his jaw and growling low. I swung out again when he charged forward, connecting with his nose and hearing bone crunch. Blood immediately spilled from his nose, which was clearly broken.

“You asshole,” he said through a mouthful of blood. He turned his head and spat.

I grinned when Brandon tried to get a punch in. The struggle was half the fun, half the rush of the fight. Brandon swung again, and I ducked right before I was hit. We were close enough to the side of the house that when he tried to hit me, and I moved out of the way, he slammed his fist into the siding. Brandon howled in pain and stumbled back, cradling his hand.

Before there had been a rush of noise from the bystanders, but now there was nothing but silence.

The anger on Brandon’s face was evident, and as I watched him push past his pain and rush me again, all I could do was grin.

But Brandon got a hit in, his fist connecting with my jaw. My head cracked back, and blood instantly filled my mouth as my teeth cut into the inside of my cheek. I shook the pain away.

I could hear Kennedy speaking to someone in the background, her worried voice digging at my heart. I hated that she was put in this position, that she saw all this shit going down. I was better than this. I’d end this now, kick everyone the fuck out, and explain everything to her. I was done pushing those feelings for her down, tired of pretending like all of this was normal, that hiding love for someone was no big deal.

It was a big fucking deal.

“Or maybe all of this is because you want to fuck her.” Brandon barked out a string of laughter. It was clear he didn’t know we were step-cousins, because if he had no doubt he’d use that as ammunition. “Yeah, maybe that’s it. You want to corrupt little miss perfect.”

A blind rage filled me. I wasn’t such a fool that I didn’t know exactly what Brandon was doing. The asshole was goading me, and it worked. I charged after him, took his body to the ground, and slammed my fist into the side of his face.

Over and over I did it, hearing him grunt in pain, taking a few hits to the side myself. But I didn’t care. It was only when I was pulled off of him that I started to see more clearly again.

I turned and saw Raif and Theo standing off to the side, Raif grinning like he’d just seen the fight of the century, Theo looking a little uncomfortable. I searched for Kennedy and saw her standing off to the side with some guy. Her friend.

I narrowed my eyes, hating that she was with someone other than me. I found myself taking a step toward them, but felt someone stop me. I looked down and saw Theo’s hand on my forearm.

“Shit, dude. Not now.” Theo let go of me and I ran my hand over my hair and blew out a breath.

“Everyone get the fuck out of here.” My voice boomed and I looked at everyone, pissed that they were here. The party had been a bad fucking idea. “Show’s over.”

“Roman, you good, man?” Theo asked, Raif moving up to stand beside him.

“I’m fine. I just want everyone out.” Theo and Raif nodded and started ushering everyone out.

I zeroed in my gaze on Kennedy, saw her looking at me with wide eyes, and felt like shit that I’d made her feel that way. She turned to the guy she was standing next to, and he looked over at me, his expression a little hesitant, but whatever she said next had him nodding. He gave her a hug and I grew even more pissed off.

I didn’t want anyone touching her.

Luckily for him, he left with all the other people.

“Are you sure you’re good?” Theo asked before heading out.

“I’m good, just don’t want anyone in my house anymore.” I looked at him, but couldn’t be pissed at anyone but myself. I hadn’t exactly put a stop to the party, I’d let Kennedy see me fight a guy, and I felt like fucking shit over it. I’d probably scared the hell out of her.