Ride It

Chapter 6

"Well, I'm sure you've heard the news. Beatrice plans to stay with me for a while. You and her are over." Bentley calmly explains.

"Says who!?"

"Says Beatrice," he replies firmly.

"Bea, is this true? You want to leave me?" Jason asks, and I peek around to see his narrowed eyes drilling into me.

My body shudders as I tighten my hold on Bentley. He's telling me to think carefully before I speak.

But I don't want to go back. Bentley promised I'd be safe with him.

I nod my head and turn my eyes away. "I'm sorry."

He snorts a laugh and runs a hand through his hair. "Is this how you treat your fiancé? By running off with another man in the middle of the night!?"

He tries to remain calm. I can see it on his face, but his voice quickly rises an octave at the end of his speech.

I flinch, and Bentley moves to block my view again.

People start looking our way, attracted by the drama unfolding in front of them.

I don't like this kind of attention.

I muster enough courage to step beside Bentley and meet Jason's dark eyes. If I don't say it now, I might not have the courage to say it later.

"You're not my fiancé anymore. We're over."

"Like hell we are!" He barks and takes a step toward me. Before I can react, Bentley wraps an arm around my waist and shoves me behind him protectively.

Jason pauses, his eyes straying to Bentley's hand that's firmly holding onto me. He clenches his jaw and turns to look at Bentley.

They stare at each other, a silent war spewing from their eyes. The tension in the air grows thicker, and the crowd hushes as everyone looks on with baited breaths.

"Are you getting in my way right now, Bentley?" Jason breaks the silence and asks.

"Wouldn't be the first time, would it?" Bentley quips. There's a certain edge to his tone... Almost like he's angry at Jason and is doing everything he can to contain his anger.

I furrow my brow in confusion. The resentment in his tone goes beyond me and Jason's relationship. I can feel it.

Are they associated with each other?

"This is between me and my fiancé," Jason presses.

"Ex-fiancé."

"Bea, Mom, and Dad are worried sick about you. Why did you leave?" I hear my brother's voice and turn to look at him.

It's been forever since I've seen him. After taking the job Jason offered, he's rarely ever at home.

I can see the concern in his eyes, but I'm confident that concern is more for himself than it is for me.

What happens if he takes back his support because of her? Will I lose my job? Will Mom and Dad lose the house?

That's probably what he's thinking.

I don't answer his question and instead look away. I have nothing to say to him. Just like he had nothing to say that one time I came home with a gash on my forehead after one of Jason's 'discipline sessions'.

He looks surprised by my lack of response.

More people are gathering around us and their whispers kiss my ears and make me even more self-conscious.

I tug Bentley's shirt and murmur, "Can we go?"

Jason's eyes snap to me and his voice drops as he threatens. "You're not leaving me. You hear what I'm telling you? I'm your fiancé. You're coming home with me so we can talk this out, dammit!"