Ruin Me Gently

Chapter Four

Zain POV

The second I hear the shouting, the crash of doors, and Jacob screaming Scarlet’s name down the hallway, my body stiffens. Liam catches my eye, smirking a little.

“I’m guessing she freaked out and ran,” he whispers, nudging me gently with his elbow.

Yeah, that sounds about right. Scarlet’s been on edge all night, wound tighter than a Chanel purse on clearance. Losing her virginity has her more terrified than I’ve ever seen her, and I’ve witnessed her cry over a broken nail once.

“Give me a minute, yeah?” I murmur, already stepping away.

Liam nods, understanding.

I weave through the clusters of people, ignoring the buzz of conversation and the music thudding faintly in the background. When I round the corner, I spot Jacob standing outside Scarlet’s bedroom door, fists clenched at his sides, jaw tight.

My stomach drops. “Is she okay?” I ask, keeping my voice even, though every instinct in me is already on edge.

Jacob barely glances at me. “Stay out of it, alright?” he snaps, his voice sharp enough to slice glass.

I blink, then let out a humorless laugh. “Yeah, that’s not happening. She’s my best f*ck*ng friend. You think I’m just gonna stand here and twiddle my thumbs while you pressure her into something she’s not ready for? Newsflash, jackass, not happening.”

He scowls, stepping closer like he actually thinks he can intimidate me. Cute.

“I’m sorting it. Go away.”

I sigh heavily, already done with this conversation. I shove past him without another word and press my knuckles gently against the door.

“Scar? It’s me,” I say softly. “Are you okay?”

I hear her moving on the other side, a soft shuffle of feet and the creak of the bed.

“Has he gone?” she calls out, her voice small but clear.

I glance over my shoulder at Jacob still hovering like a bad smell. “No, he’s still here,” I say honestly. “He’s being a stubborn prick who won’t leave you alone because you’re not ready. Let us in, yeah?”

There’s a beat of silence, then a harsh, broken laugh from inside the room.

“He was kissing someone!” she screams, the sound raw and furious.

I blink, turning slowly to face Jacob fully now, my heart dropping into a cold pit in my stomach.

“You were what?” I hiss.

Jacob steps back, both hands flying up like he’s under arrest. “It’s not like that, alright? Come on, we’ve been dating for months. I was happy to wait for her at first, but I figured a few weeks, not months.”

He shrugs like that’s some kind of valid excuse.

Rage flashes through me so fast I have to curl my hands into fists to keep from decking him right there in the hallway.

Scarlet begged me to give him a chance. Begged me not to punch him the first time I caught him checking out other girls behind her back.

I promised her I wouldn’t hit him unless I had a d*mn good reason. Well, looks like I finally have one.

“Get out,” I snarl, stepping forward so fast he flinches. “Get the f*ck out before I drag you out by your hair, you cheating piece of sh*t.”

Jacob straightens up, squaring his shoulders like he actually thinks he’s the victim here.

“She’s overreacting,” he says, his voice rising with frustration. “It was nothing! We weren’t even doing anything. It was a kiss, barely! Jesus, it’s not like I slept with her or anything.”

I stare at him, stunned for half a second by how f*ck*ng pathetic he sounds.

Then I laugh, loud, sharp and unapologetic. The noise echoes down the hall, making a few people poke their heads out of rooms. I don’t care. Let them watch.

“You seriously think that’s helping your case?” I ask, grinning wide enough to show teeth. “You seriously think standing there whining like a six-year-old who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar is going to make this better?”

Jacob’s face flushes an ugly red, but he doesn’t say anything. Probably because he knows there’s nothing he can say that’s going to make him look less like a complete piece of sh*t.

I shake my head slowly, still chuckling under my breath, even though there’s a sharp edge under it now. My hands itch to shove him into the wall, to wipe that stubborn look right off his smug face.

“You know what?” I say, taking a step closer so he can feel every ounce of my disgust. “I’m so f*ck*ng glad she hesitated tonight. I’m glad she second-guessed sleeping with you. Because you? You don’t deserve her.”

He flinches at that, but I don’t let up. I’m just getting started.

“You don’t deserve her trust. Her loyalty. Her heart. Hell, you don’t even deserve to breathe the same air as her after what you just pulled.”

Jacob tries to open his mouth, tries to work up another excuse, but I cut him off with a look that could drop a grown man to his knees.

“Save it,” I snap. “Save your b*llsh*t for someone dumb enough to buy it. Because Scarlet? She’s better than you. She’s always been better than you.”

The door behind me rattles a little, and I realize Scarlet’s probably been listening to every word. Good. I want her to hear this. I want her to know she deserves better, so much better, than the coward standing in front of her.

Jacob stares at me, jaw working, fists clenched uselessly at his sides like he might actually be stupid enough to take a swing.

“Get the f*ck out,” I say again, voice low and dangerous now. “Before you embarrass yourself even more.”

For a second, he hesitates, like he might actually argue, but then he curses under his breath, shoots the door one last dirty look, and storms down the hall.

I watch him go, arms crossed over my chest, every muscle in my body tight with fury.

The second he’s out of sight, I turn back toward Scarlet’s door, pressing my forehead gently against the wood.

“You still in there, Scar?” I ask softly, letting all the anger drain from my voice. “He’s gone. I swear.”

There’s a beat of silence, then the softest sound, like a stifled sob, from the other side.

My chest tightens painfully. “I’m here,” I murmur, resting my hand flat against the door. “I’m not going anywhere.”