Nate ignores my sister, continuing to stalk toward us, or more accurately, Skyler. She’s so shocked, she doesn’t even move as he charges toward her.
But I do.
I step in front of Skyler, letting my large frame shield her from this dipshit’s rage.
“Nate,” I say in a low growl, “I suggest you turn around and head out on your own two legs while you still can.”
A flash of fear crosses his face, but he smooths it over quickly with false bravado.
“Really, Skyler?” He snorts, trying to look around me. “It’s not enough to let your pervert-boss fuck you and take pictures of it, now you’re letting him fight your battles, too?”
I see red.
Jolting forward, I grasp the front of Nate’s shirt in an ironclad grip.
“You don’t talk to her like that,” I growl. “Ever. Again.”
Nate gulps. The only thing that saves his face from becoming lunch meat is the gentle brush of fingers across my wrist. Skyler steps out from behind me wearing a mask of calm.
“You’re right, Nate,” Skyler says, her voice almost eerily cool. She exudes the slightest bit of pressure on my wrist, and my hand obeys, releasing Nate’s shirt from my grasp. “I don’t need someone else to fight for me when my opponent is as weak and spineless as you are.”
He splutters, “W-weak? Weak—”
“And spineless, don’t forget that, too.” She takes another step forward, and he moves back, glancing between us. “Only a weak and spineless asshole like you would treat Crystal the way you have. And only a weak and spineless asshole would stalk my yoga blog because he can’t admit he’s got a thing for big girls. And only a weak and spineless piece of shit would blame someone else for his girlfriend dumping him. That’s what this is about, right? She finally dumped your ass—”
“Shut up!” Nate yells, but there’s no real bite to it. “You have no idea what you’re talking about, fat bitch!”
Skyler sighs and flips her ponytail over her shoulder. “Well, I’d rather be a fat bitch than a pussy.”
Nate’s mouth opens like he’s about to say something else, when Skyler surprises everyone by rearing her fist back and pummeling it right into Nate’s nose.
He howls as his head snaps back, and blood immediately starts flowing down his chin.
“What the fuck?! What the fuck?!” Nate screeches like a banshee.
But Skyler just shakes out her hand.
“Now,” Skyler says, sounding as confident as ever, “I think it’s time you left, Nate, and don’t ever come back here. Better yet, don’t contact anyone associated with this gym. Not me, not Crystal, no one.” She shoots him a glare that could burn through brick. “Or else I will let my pervert-boss fight my battles for me, and I think it’s fair to assume he can probably punch a lot harder than me, right?”
Taking my cue, I step up behind Skyler and wrap my arm around her waist.
A look of fear flashes across Nate’s face once again. Well, at least I think it’s fear; it’s kind of hard to tell with all the blood smeared over his mouth.
He backs away slowly. “Y-you’re going to regret this, Skyler. You and Crystal, both.”
“No, I don’t think she will,” I growl. When his beady eyes dart toward me, I raise a clenched fist. “Now run along before I give you a black eye to match your broken nose.”
Nate scampers out the door with his tail tucked between his legs like the wounded animal he is. As soon as he’s out of sight, Skyler slumps against me.
“I thought he’d never leave,” she mutters, flexing the hand she used to punch him. A slight bruise has already started to form on her knuckles. She touches the tender area with her uninjured hand and hisses.
“Don’t touch it,” I tell her. “It’ll be sore for a few days, but with a little bit of ice and rest, you’ll be back to defending the gym in no time.”
Skyler cracks a small smile. “Okay, but don’t let any villains take over while I’m out of commission. Can’t let all of my hard work go down the drain.”
Love and pride fill my chest as I smile back at her. Watching my baby girl stand up for herself was the most amazing thing I’ve ever witnessed. I was ready and willing to fight her battle for her, but I can see now she’s more than capable of winning her own wars.
“So, it’s true, then?”