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The pavilion was a mess of noise and people, bodies everywhere in ridiculous costumes, but my mind was focused on one thing: finding Connor. My blood was already boiling, and I could feel the heat rising the closer I got to where I'd last seen him.
Blair stood with Eloise, looking like she was trying to have a good time, but I knew better. I'd heard what Connor said to her earlier, and it was enough to make me see red.
Blair wasn't just Aoife's cousin, she was practically a little sister to me, and I wasn't about to let some prick like Connor walk all over her.
"Blair!" I called out as I finally reached them, pushing through the crowd. The look on her face told me she knew what was coming. Eloise had that same look, like she was daring me to go ahead with whatever I had planned, but Blair just seemed nervous.
"Hey, Joey," she said, trying to keep her voice light, but I could see through it. I wasn't here for pleasantries.
"Where is he?" I asked, cutting straight to it. I wasn't in the mood to dance around the issue.
"Joey, don't—" Blair started, but I wasn't having it.
"Don't what?"I shot back, my voice louder than I intended. "I heard what he called you, Blair. He called you a whore. Where is he?"
She froze, and I could see the discomfort on her face. She didn't want this to turn into something bigger, but it was already too late for that.
"It's fine. We sorted it out—"
"Sorted it out?"I couldn't help but laugh, but there was no humor in it. "Blair, he doesn't get to talk to you like that. Ever. I don't care if you think it's sorted. He needs to learn some respect."
"Joey, please," she whispered, eyes pleading with me to drop it. But I couldn't. I wouldn't.
My eyes scanned the crowd again until I spotted him, lounging by the bar like he didn't have a care in the world. Like he hadn't just humiliated Blair in front of a bunch of people. My fists clenched on instinct.
"There he is," I muttered, barely hearing Blair as she called out behind me. I was already moving, shoving past people with a one-track mind.
Connor barely had time to turn around before I was on him. "What the hell, man—" he started, but I cut him off by grabbing the front of his shirt and yanking him towards me.
"You think you can call Blair a whore and just get away with it?" I growled, my face inches from his.
"Get off me, you psycho!" Connor spat, trying to shove me back, but I wasn't going anywhere.
"Psycho?" I barked out, shoving him backward so hard he nearly stumbled into the bar. "You don't get to call her names and then play victim."
"Joey, what the fuck?" Connor snarled, finally catching his balance. "This has nothing to do with you, so back the fuck off."
"You made it my business the second you opened your mouth," I shot back, my voice low with barely controlled anger.
Before he could say anything else, his fist came flying towards me, but I was ready. I dodged to the side and threw a punch right into his gut, hard enough to knock the wind out of him. He gasped, doubling over, but I didn't give him time to recover. Another punch landed across his jaw, sending him stumbling back against the wall.
He swung again, wild and sloppy, and this time I let it hit me—barely a glancing blow to the side of my face—but it was enough to piss me off even more.
"You don't ever get to treat her like that," I growled, landing one final punch that sent him crashing to the floor. He stayed there, groaning in pain, clutching his stomach.
I could feel everyone's eyes on me, but I didn't care. "If you so much as look at her the wrong way again, you're going to regret it."
Blair rushed over, panic in her eyes. "Joey, stop!"
I took a breath, backing away from Connor, who was still gasping for air on the floor. "You okay, Blair?" I asked, my voice softer now as I turned to her.
She nodded, but I could tell she was torn, a mix of gratitude and guilt.
"Don't feel bad for him," I told her. "He had it coming."
Connor groaned again, but this time he stayed down.
