Unbroken Read Free Page A

been too big of an ass. He was drunk tonight though, and hanging out with two other guys from high school who fell on the wrong side of the jerk spectrum.
    And for some reason, they were interested in letting their asswipe flags fly tonight.
    Cade opened his mouth to tell them to back down, but Amber had already whirled around, the end of the pool cue smacking sharply on the floor, the tip held up by her face.
    â€œCan I help you, Mike?” she asked.
    â€œJust saying, is all,” he said, his words slurred.
    â€œMaybe you should just say a little clearer,” she said, “because I didn’t quite take your meaning.”
    â€œHe’s just sayin’,” douche number two said, “you’re like the town mare. We’ve all had a ride.”
    Cade saw red. Death and destruction flashed before his eyes, but Amber barely blinked.
    â€œCome on now,” Amber said, her tone completely cool, “official rules say there’s no score if the cowboy can’t stay on for a full eight seconds. And if I recall right . . . you didn’t.”
    â€œYou stupid slut—”
    And then Cade did step in, his fist connecting with the side of the other man’s jaw. And damn, it felt good. He hadn’t punched anyone since . . . well, since he’d broken his brother-in-law’s nose a year ago.
    He was worried the other two goons might round on him, but they were too drunk to maintain a thought that went in a straight line, so they didn’t seem to key in to the fact that Cade had just laid their buddy out flat.
    â€œHey!” Allen, the bartender, shouted. “Cade, could you not bust faces in my bar?”
    â€œTell these assholes not to run their misogynistic mouths in your bar.” He looked around at all the people who were staring at him, agape. “Yeah. Ten-dollar word, I just raised the IQ of the entire room,” Cade shouted.
    â€œOh, Cade, for heaven’s sake,” Amber said. “Knock it off.”
    â€œHe said—”
    â€œLike I haven’t heard it before?”
    â€œI’m not going to listen to it.”
    â€œThere’s no point. And I don’t need you to step in and save me. I just wanted to play pool. Now you punched him and we have to go so he doesn’t call the cops on you.”
    â€œI know the cops.”
    â€œSo what? Now I’m a spectacle, so thanks.”
    â€œAre you . . . are you pissed at me for punching a guy who called you a—”
    â€œYes! I am pissed at you! Outside,” she said. “Now.”
    They walked out the swinging front door of the bar and into the dirt and gravel parking lot. Dust hung in the air, clinging to the smell of hose water and hay, all mingling together to create their own unique scent of summer.
    â€œWhat did I do? He was the one—”
    She turned to face him, her cheeks red, her blue eyes glittering. “He’s not worth it. He’s got half a brain and a tiny peen. And all you needed to do was just let it go. I don’t need attention called to shit like that, Cade.”
    â€œWhat do you mean ‘shit like that’? As in, it happens frequently?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI’ve never . . .”
    â€œBecause they’re normally too sober to do it in front of you. Why do you think I have no friends other than you?”
    â€œBecause I’m all you need?” he asked, knowing full well that wasn’t true.
    â€œBecause I came into town with a bang, no pun intended, sixteen years ago, and no one can forget it. Because a lot of the guys from high school and I . . . and now as far as the women are concerned, I’m that skank their husband screwed under the bleachers during free period.”
    The blood was pounding in his ears, his heart racing. “I don’t think of you that way.”
    â€œI know. But I didn’t have sex with your husband.”
    A laugh rushed