Free Alive With You (Real Love #1) by Angela Coffey

fuck up right now. Walk away before I beat your ass to the ground."
    "Says the little one who curls up and cries. I've watched you crumble; I'm not afraid of you one bit."
    Gavin ran in to get Tyler, I assumed, to try and stop a fight that was obviously coming. I stepped up to her, face-to-face, my shaky fists clenched tight. Ty and Gavin stood there watching. I've never been quite sure why they didn't break it up. I'm not a fighter, so this rush of adrenaline was all new to me; I couldn't control it.
    "You knew a different me, a weak and battered wife. I was never afraid of you; I was afraid of Cole. So my question is: Princess, do you really miss the taste of my pussy so bad that you'll try and suck off every man I'm with, or are you just a bitter whore? Either way, you're pathetic."
    I saw her pull back her fist to swing so I stepped back, grabbed her by the hair, and planted my fist into her face...twice. I think I broke her nose because blood gushed everywhere and mixed with her tears. It was such a rush to know I had it in me, that I could put her in her place. I felt Tyler pull me off her and start dragging me to the truck. "You want more?" I called out. "Come find me, bitch." Tyler threw me into Gavin's truck and slammed the door.
    I watched Tyler give Winston a kiss on the cheek and smile. She shrugged her shoulders. I heard her even through the closed window. "I'm sorry; that bitch had it coming, though. I'm actually kind of proud of Claire for finally standing up to her. If you guys want to follow us to her house that would be awesome, but if not, I totally understand. Either way, it was amazing to meet you. Who would have thought my TV crush would be so awesome in real life...and think I'm hot!"
    Winston gave her a smile. "Well you're all mine tonight so I guess we're coming. Lead the way, gorgeous."
    On the way home, nothing was said, and I just stared at my bloody hands. I could tell Gavin was pissed off, but I didn't regret it, no matter how childish it was. At my house, he flopped on the couch, and I went upstairs to clean up. I was so tired of trying to impress him, trying to seduce him, and all the back and forth. After washing my face and hands, I looked in the mirror and took a deep breath. I slipped on some sweats and a tank top. It was time to get back to the basics, back to being me. By the time I got downstairs, everyone was sitting there talking. God only knows what was going through Dylan's and Winston's head. They all looked up, and I couldn't hold my tongue anymore.
    "Gavin, I can't do this anymore, all the flirty games we play. They're fun, but this whole situation is driving me crazy. Look at us; we're a goddamn Taylor Swift song waiting to be written. That girl fucked my husband for years, and I did nothing. Tonight, I broke her nose just for touching your hair. What do I need to do to show you that I want you, that you're the one? What's it going to take for you to want me?"
    "Claire it's not that simple."
    "Why not? Why won't you be straight with me? I was damn near naked in bed with you the other night, and all you did was say goodnight; then earlier you pull what you did in the back of my shop, and tonight you're back to not wanting me. Am I too late? Is there someone else that you don't want to tell me about?"
    " Someone else? Are you insane? I haven't touched another woman since the day I met you. I've been waiting all this time for you to be ready. For the last two years, I've been competing with a goddamn ghost, Claire. Do you have any idea how frustrating that is? I'm not giving you all of me until I know that I have all of you." He raked his hands through his hair trying to calm down. "You left Cole; you took your daughter and left. Kayleb died saving your life, trying to save Audrey's. If that accident hadn't happened, we'd have never met, and you'd be married to him."
    "I'm ready; I've been ready. Why won't you believe me? I've been in love with you for so long and felt guilty for it.