Logan
I walk into my favorite sushi restaurant and freeze as soon as I enter.
What the fuck?
I reach up and rub my eyes. I can hardly believe what's in front of me. Am I seeing this correctly?
No. This can't be happening.
What the fuck is Hunter doing in my favorite sushi restaurant? And what the fuck is he doing with Natalie? Who does he think he is, putting his hand on Natalie's?
I feel my pulse kick in my chest and there's an anger building behind my vision. It almost makes me dizzy. I try to take a few, deep, mindful breaths but it doesn't help to ease the tension building behind my temples. I unconsciously ball one hand into a fist.
Hunter doesn't even like Japanese food. And look at the way he's eating … fumbling his chopsticks, and pouring soy sauce over his sushi. It's all wrong.
It's more than wrong. It's borderline embarrassing.
The way he pours it is greedy and wasteful.
I'll admit; I'm normally a calm and contained person. But right now? In this moment? There's a vein in my temple that's pulsing so fast, it feels like it might burst. I'm trying to resist the violent urge to rub wasabi in his eyes.
I'm anything but calm right now … to say the least.
There's something about Natalie that makes me feel possessive … and protective. It's animalistic. It's a feeling I normally don't experience.
For a moment, I debate whether or not I should just turn around and leave and pretend like I never saw this. I could sweep this under the rug of my mind and move on. I have bigger things in my life to worry about. I could be the bigger man.
But as soon as I think this, I know it's not true.
I can't sweep this under the rug. I can't ignore it.
It's more than just an emotion. My entire body is reacting to this.
I know Hunter, and I can't let that cocky bastard get away with this. The way he's looking at Natalie. The way his hand is on hers.
No, that's going to stop right now.
I approach their table, and without wasting another moment I say, "What's going on?" My voice is calm but serious. It's hiding the rage boiling just below the surface.
I catch them off guard and Hunter seems genuinely surprised to see me.
"Well, look who it is," Hunter smiles. "Logan the swingin' Lion … or should I say lamb? You aren't much of a lion these days, are you? Tell me. How long has it been since you've lined up a fight? Months? Years? Let's be honest. It's been so long, we've all stopped counting."
My jaw grows tense and I grit my teeth. "I didn't know you were one for … second place."
As soon as the words leave my mouth, the realization hits Hunter and I watch his eyes go from me to Natalie, and back. And then he grins.
"I'm never in second place," he growls. "Jealous?"
I know I've struck a nerve because he pushes his chair back and stands up so that we're facing each other with an even gaze.
Our chests are puffed out and the way we're breathing is causing our nostrils to flare.
The air between us is thick with tension.
"Stop, both of you," Natalie pleads, but Hunter and I ignore her.
"I'll take it from here," I say to Hunter. "You can leave now."
He laughs. "You're fucking kidding, right? What are you, fucking mental? This is my dinner date, which you've so rudely interrupted. I was here first."
"I was with the girl first," I growl.
"I'm going to give you three seconds to get the fuck out of here before I make you wish that you never showed your face here," Hunter says, a seriousness growing across his brow.
"You've always been a big talker," I growl. "You talk a big game Hunter, but you can't back it up. Natalie is mine."
"Sure doesn't look that way," he sneers, taking another step closer to me, "and time's running out. Now you've got two seconds … and that's generous."
"Good, then that gives me just enough time to put my fist in that mouth of yours." My eyes are now shooting daggers, and every muscle in my body is taut, and ready for action. If he wants to talk big, he better be ready to back it up.
"What the fuck did you just say to me?" Hunter growls. He steps toward me and we bump chests.
Just then, Natalie jumps out of her seat. "I said stop! Please!"
Now we're listening. We have to. She's pushed us aside and is standing in between both of us.
Then she turns to me. "I don't belong to you Logan. I want you to remember that. I don't belong to anyone. You don't own me like some pretty piece of furniture."
I shake my head. "I didn't mean it like that, I—" but Natalie quickly cuts me off.
"Go home Logan; I mean it," she says to me, and then grabbing Hunter's hand, she storms out of the restaurant, dragging him behind her to make her point clear.
Fuck.
That's the last thing I thought would happen.