“No? Am I mistaken? Because, if you are fucking this asshole when you're engaged to me, what does that make you?”
I say nothing. Ryan turns to Luke, grabbing him by the collar. “Maybe you want to talk, Romeo. Are you fucking my fiancée?”
“Ryan…”
“Is it even anything about him?” Ryan asks. “Or were you just desperate for the self-esteem boost?”
“Come on, Alyssa,” Luke says. “We should go.”
“Why don't you go? Why don't you get the fuck away from her?” Ryan asks. “Or do you want to drive another woman to suicide?”
“Mind your own fucking business,” Luke says.
And I see the hate and anger build in both their eyes. I am sure one of them is going to throw a punch, but they just stare.
“Ryan, don't,” I say. “He's not worth it.”
“You're not special, you know,” Ryan says to Luke. “She'll fuck anyone who gives her attention.”
“Explains why she ever fucked you,” Luke says.
“Stop it,” I say. “Both of you. I'm not a prize, and I'm not going to listen to either of you insult my judgment.”
“Come on, Alyssa,” Luke says. “I'll drive you home.” He grabs my wrist, firm enough I know he means business, and pulls me towards the hallway.
“Bitch,” Ryan mutters.
And I stop resisting Luke's guidance.
***
I expect Ryan to follow us down the stairs, but he doesn't. I expect to hear his rough voice or feel his hands around my wrist, but I don't. I hear nothing, feel nothing, think nothing.
Luke leads me through the dark parking garage, his hand glued to mine until we reach his car. The back seat is a mess, much too messy a place for two people to fuck. I try to slow my breathing, but my head floods with images of Luke and Samantha in this car, pushing the shit on the backseat to the floor. Moving to the passenger seat. Giving up on the inside of the car and fucking on the hood.
But Luke would tell me if he'd fucked her. Wouldn't he?
I climb into the passenger seat and press my nails into my fingers.
“I never should have called you,” Luke says. “I could have handled it.”
“I've been with Ryan for a long time. I can handle him.”
“There's only one way you could have handled him,” Luke says.
“I can take one for the team,” I say. “It's not like I haven't fucked him before.”
“Alyssa…”
“He isn't usually like this.”
“An asshole?”
“Yeah.”
“I don't believe you,” Luke says.
“Can we just go?”