Free Always in my Heart (The Subzero Series, #2) by Rebecca Elise Page A

shoves me again. “You’re the reason she won’t talk to me.”
    “I doubt that,” I say and just because he is starting to annoy me I add. “My guess is it would be because of your receding hair line, the way you shove like a little girl and, no offense, but you are kind of a pest.”
    Jack mutters a couple of curse words under his breath. Jesse’s hands ball up into fists as he starts to shake with anger. He’s face has turned an even deeper shade red and all of the sudden he is charging straight at me. Jesse tackles me, his shoulder digging straight into my stomach, knocking my off of my feet.
    I quickly stand up and turn to walk away but, just as I do, I feel Jesse’s fist collide with my right eye. I turn to him, cock my fist back and hit him in his mouth. Jesse staggers backwards and cries out in pain. He regains his composure quickly and comes at me again. I duck to avoid his fist and he fumbles a bit, falling to the ground.
    “This is fucking ridiculous,” Jack yells out. “Both of you need to stop.”
    “This isn’t your fight.” I say to him.
    “It’s not yours either. Good luck explaining to Abby how you got a black eye because of Cath. I’m sure that’ll go over really well.” Jack says dryly.
    “Stop blaming Cath. She isn’t the reason I have a black eye.”
    I’m so busy arguing with Jack about Cath for the hundredth time this week that I don’t even notice Jesse has gotten back up until he bum rushes me, knocking me to the ground. Sitting on top of my stomach, he puts one hand on my shoulder and punches me in the mouth with the other one. He goes to hit me again, but before he can, someone grabs him and yanks him off of me.
    I sit up to see Jesse being dragged off by one of the security guards. Jack walks over to me and holds out his hand. I grab ahold of it and he helps me up to my feet.
    “You okay?” He asks.
    “Yeah...that didn’t go exactly how I pictured it.”
    Jack laughs. “How exactly did you think it was going to go?”
    I shrug. “Don’t know really. I guess I thought I would ask him to leave and he would.”
    “Well...if someone told you to leave Abby alone would you?”
    “No but that’s different. First of all, Abby finds me irresistible and would never be able to turn me away and secondly that boy has no skills.”
    “And you do?”
    “Absolutely,” I say as we walk back towards the building. “Do you know what I said to win Abby over?”
    “This ought to be good.”
    I hold the door open, letting Jack walk through first.
    “Nothing. I said absolutely nothing. All I did was give her a sexy, smoldering glance as she was walking up to us that first day. Just one look was all it took.”
    Jack grimaces. “If I remember correctly, you fell in love with her the moment she came into view so maybe she is the one with the skills.”
    “You’re probably right. That would make more sense.”
    I walk over to reception and tap the palm of my hands on the countertop. Clara looks up and she lets out a loud gasp. Her hand flies up to her mouth.
    “Mr. McDermott!” She exclaims. “Are you okay?”
    “Totally fine, no need to worry. I was just wondering if there is a first aid kit around here.”
    Clara jumps up from her seat causing it to spin a couple of times. She rushes over to a wooden cabinet, opens one of the drawers and pulls out a red and white kit. She hands it to me and I thank her, turning to walk down the hall towards the bathroom.
    I hear a gasp and look up to see Cath standing in front of me. Both of her hands are clasped over her mouth. She slowly walks towards me, stopping when she is barely a few inches away.
    “Oh my God Tyler!” She barely whispers. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
    I nod and smile. “It’s okay.  It isn’t your fault. He shouldn’t be bothering you anymore though.”
    She grabs the first aid kit from my hand, latches onto my arm and pulls me into the bathroom.
    “Umm...this is the men’s room.” I say.
    She glances