Hot Chicken: A Man of the Month Club Christmas in July Series Novella by LM Fox

Author:LM Fox [Fox, LM]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-07-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

Matt

* * *

“What? Why?”

But she’s already out of the truck and walking down the dirt drive with her arms wrapped around her. There’s no chill in the air. Her posture reminds me of how she’d look after Jennifer hurled insults at her as if she was cowering in on herself.

“Wait!” I yell, chasing after her. Grabbing her arm, I pull her toward me. “What did I say?”

She rubs her arm where I’ve yanked her, and I instantly cringe. I didn’t mean to be rough, but something is clearly wrong.

“Just cut the crap, Hightower. I was there, remember? I heard it all.” She’s livid. Her face is flushed, and there’s a fire in her eyes I’ve never seen before. Hell, if it weren’t related to something I might’ve done, it’d be hot.

“Heard what?”

She rolls her eyes at me before putting her balled fists on her hips. “Jenn asking you if I was what you wanted now, mocking me as usual.”

My head drops. Why hadn’t I grown a pair and defended her? I was a self-absorbed coward.

“Then you said, I’m not into ugly chicks.” She practically spits the words out.

My head springs up at the accusation. I remember that moment clearly. “No! You’ve got it all wrong.”

I rush over to her only to see her retreat a few steps. “Ellie, I was referring to her. We’d broken up the night before because I told her I was sick of the way she treated people. You, specifically. I’d worried I’d only added more fuel to the fire. Over the years, I’ve harbored a lot of guilt for not being man enough to defend you. I should’ve pushed back more than I did, but I saw what happened when one of them was challenged and didn’t want...” Running my hand through my hair in frustration, I can’t help but pace.

“Look. You’re right. I was weak and pathetic. A fucking coward. I should’ve done something. I liked you.” I stop walking to and fro, looking directly at her so there’s no mistaking what I’m saying. “I was more attracted to you than you could possibly know. Your skin, your lips, and hair. And don’t get me started on how I fantasized about your ass.” I pause to ensure she hears every word. “But those eyes. They hypnotized me all those years ago. I saw them in my dreams, Ellie. Still do.”

Her lids spring open in shock. Good. She needs to know. I can’t believe I’m sharing this, but I need to get this out there once and for all.

“And you never let them get to you. At least not that anyone else could see. You were a badass.” I shake my head at the memory of her lifting her chin higher with each insult. “I wasn’t as strong as you were. My insecurities got the best of me, and I knew it was only a matter of time before they came after me.”

Ellie tilts her head to the side with a look of cynicism.

I

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