Self

Chapter 75

He spun around to Yara, his voice dripping with scorn. “And you! You couldn’t stoop any lower, could you? Tempting my best friend? Happy now?”

Yara was a mix of fury and hurt. She was the one caught in the middle without any reason. What had she done to deserve that?

Shane was unsettlingly calm as he faced Yale’s accusations, a cold smirk playing on his lips as he touched a bruise on his nose. “Haven’t you seen everything you needed to?”

Yale’s face was a mask of stone. “So, you’re not going to explain?”

“What’s there to explain? That I’m into Yara? That I’m going after her?”

Yara’s face was drained of color.

Yale’s eyes blazed with anger, and he swung at Shane without hesitation.

“Jerk! You’re into her? You’re chasing after her? Who do you think

you are?!”

Shane took the hit, his head snapping to the side, but he pulled Yara protectively behind him. “And why not?”

That protective move, as if claiming her as his own, sent Yale over the edge. He spat out each word through clenched teeth. “In your dreams!”

“And what right do you have to say that? What are you to her now, an ex who’s history?”

Yale said, “It’s only over when I say it’s over. What are you to her, huh?”

“Come on, you were the one who said it ages ago, remember? You wanted to break up; we were all there. Did it slip your mind that fast?”

“Really?” Yale scoffed, nodding sarcastically. “You’ve been waiting here for me?” Shane’s face showed a hint of regret. “Sorry, you were the one who let go first-” Just because I let go doesn’t mean you get to swoop in! Shane, don’t you have any standards? You should know better than to mess with your close friends‘ exes!”

“Yale, chill out. People come together and fall apart all the time. Just because you’re done, does that mean Yara’s off–limits forever? If it weren’t me, it’d be some other guy.

The thought of Yara cozying up to another guy and starting a family hit Yale like a ton

of bricks. His hands shook with a fury he could not control, and his mind was a total blank.

When he snapped back to reality, his fists were already flying, pounding into Shane repeatedly.

Shane was quick on his feet, dodging and weaving, but since he was trying to shield Yara, he still caught a few good hits.

Yale did not get off easy, though. Shane knew him like the back of his hand, and soon enough, Yale was sporting a split lip and a bleeding forehead.

Xandra had taken a couple of minutes in the lounge to get her emotions in check before heading down to the hall to find Yale.

She had decided that Yara was old news, and bumping into each other like that day was bound to happen–no point in sweating the small stuff and coming off as petty. Feeling better, she looked around the hall, but no Yale. A helpful waiter finally pointed her to the garden outside, and what did she find?

Yale, in the middle of a full–blown fistfight with Shane, of all people!

Xandra’s heart skipped a beat at the sheer intensity of the brawl unfolding before her. Snapping back to reality, she noticed the cuts on Yale’s face and rushed over. Stop! Both of you, stop! This is going to end badly if you don’t!”

Stop! Both of you, stop! This is

She tried to grab Yale’s arm, but he shoved her aside, sending her tumbling to the ground in a heap.

Zachary and Michael heard the commotion and bolted outside.

“What in the world is happening?”

“Are you guys out of your mind?!”

“Break it up! Yale! Shane!”