I narrow my eyes at him and cross my arms over my chest. I know Mike is good, he’s been with us forever, and no one fucks with him. But some of the other guys come and go.

“I want whoever let her in here fired.”

“Without question.”

“And if one hair on Meg’s head is touched…”

“It won’t be. This is just some stupid girl with a crush, Montgomery. I’ll handle it.”

I nod once and turn my back, dismissing him.

The guys, Isaac, Luke, Nate, Matt and Caleb, are in the suite, still eating the spread of food laid out and drinking beer. I grab some chips and stuff my face. Fuck, I’m hungry.

“Good game, bro,” Isaac salutes me with his beer and I nod back at him.

“Yeah, we kicked some ass. Felt good. Ready to go get the girls?” I ask and grab another handful of chips.

“Stacy stayed home tonight. She’s just uncomfortable, so I’m going to head home and rub her feet and put Soph to bed.” Isaac pulls out his keys and waves at us, then heads out.

“Okay, let’s go get the girls and take them out for dinner.” Nate leads us all down to the private parking garage. “But I’ll just tell you all right now, we’ll be leaving early. I’ve got plans for her tonight.” He grins and all of us stop and frown at him. Luke laughs.

“Just because you put a ring on her finger doesn’t mean we won’t kill you, McKenna,” Caleb warns him. I suppress a laugh. Nate may be smaller than us, but he could take any one of us. Not all at once, but in a one-on-one fight, I’d put my money on Nate.

“You kill me, Julianne kills you. I know you’re afraid of her.”

“I’m not afraid of my kid sister,” Matt mutters, earning a sidelong look from Luke. “Okay, I’m afraid of her. She doesn’t fight fair.”

“That’s my girl,” Nate announces proudly. I like him. He’s good for my sister.

Now I need to get my hands on my girl and make sure she didn’t hear what an asshole I was on TV tonight.

* * *

“You are such an asshole!”

Jules storms at me across the parking lot of the restaurant we arranged to meet at earlier. She pushes me hard in the chest, knocking me back a step. Matt’s right, she doesn’t fight fair.

“Jules…”

“You know,” she interrupts me. “I know that you can be an arrogant ass at times, but what you said on fucking live television tonight takes the cake. Who the fuck do you think you are to hurt someone like that?”

“Fuck!”

She takes a step back and her eyes widen a bit. The guys are all standing around, watching us. Natalie’s hands are planted on her hips, and she’s glaring at me too. Brynna stands next to Caleb, links her arm through his, and I frown.

What the fuck is that about?

“Seriously, Will, what the hell were you thinking?” Natalie asks.

“Where is she?”

“Not here.” Jules raises her chin stubbornly. I turn to Natalie.

“Where is she, Nat?”

“I believe she went home. Why in the name of God would she be here, Will? You announced to the world that she’s no one you would dare date. She’s no one to you, remember?”

“Fuck, man, what the hell did you say?” Luke asks and I wince.

“You guys didn’t see it?” Jules asks, her eyes still narrowed menacingly and on me. Part of me wants to cover my dick with my hands, but the man in me won’t stoop to that.

“No, we didn’t see any post-game interviews,” Matt adds.

“Well, let me fill you in. When asked who the pretty girl is that he’s been seen with recently, our stupid-as-fuck brother responded with, and I quote, ‘Does she look like someone I would date? I don’t have room in my life for a woman. I’m a selfish douchebag with a small dick.”

“I did not say that last part!”

“Fuck, man, why didn’t you just say no comment?” Luke asks, looking at me like I’m a moron. And I am.

Why didn’t I?

“Because less than thirty seconds before that asshole pushed the mic in my face, I found a note in my locker from some fucked-up fan saying that if I don’t stop seeing Meg she’ll hurt her. I didn’t have time to talk to security, or think it through. I had to play it off like I don’t have a girlfriend because if anyone ever hurts Meg, I’ll fucking kill them, and I can’t go to prison.”

Jules frowns at me, and my brothers both narrow their eyes menacingly.

“Does she have security at her house?” Caleb asks, his voice low and pissed.

“Yeah, I had it installed last week, thank God.”

“Did you give the note to Mike?” Matt asks and pulls out his cell, dialing while he talks.

“Yes, he said he’ll take care of it.” I pace back and forth behind my car, and then move quickly to the driver’s side. “I’m going to her place. I’ll see you guys later.”

“Will, she was pretty pissed off. You might want to give her a couple days to cool down.” Nat’s big green eyes are worried, but I offer her a half smile.

“I have to apologize and grovel a bit. Hopefully she’ll understand when I explain.”

“They caught the girl,” Matt announces as he tucks his phone back in his pocket. “Some nineteen year old college student who offered one of the security guys a blow job if they’d let her in. She’s been arrested.”

“Thanks, man. Go have dinner, all of you. I’ll text you tomorrow.”

What the fuck did I do? I drive like a bat out of hell to Meg’s place. I need to see her. I need to hold her and reassure her that everything I said in that goddamn interview was a lie.

I can’t lose her.

I pull up to her house, slam the car door and stalk up to the front porch. I ring the bell.

No answer.

The lights are on. I can hear music coming from inside, but it’s not so loud that she wouldn’t be able to hear the doorbell.

I ring again.

No answer.

I try the knob on the door, and much to my surprise, it’s unlocked. She didn’t set the alarm or lock herself inside like I asked her to.

Goddamn stubborn woman!

“Meg?” I call out and let myself in. There’s no sign of her in the living area or her cute kitchen. I make my way upstairs, calling out for her as I go.

“Meg? Where are you, babe?”

I can hear the shower running in her master bathroom, so I let myself in. “Meg?”