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CLOVER'S POV
I followed Chad and Anika, the bottle clutched tightly in one hand, Ethan's warm grip anchoring me with the other. As we approached the staircase, I spotted a guy yanking Tara upward, her expression a mix of confusion and fear.
"Hey, partner!" Chad yelled over the pulsing music, his voice cutting through the crowd. The duo halted, their heads snapping toward him, surprise flashing across their faces.
Mindy strolled up beside me, a smug smirk dancing on her lips as she eyed our intertwined hands.
"Tara is good down here!" I shouted, desperation creeping into my voice, but the jerk just kept tugging Tara higher, oblivious to my concern.
The embarrassment washed over me like a cold wave. Ethan remained beside me, his warm smile a comfort amid the chaos.
"At least you tried," he whispered into my ear, his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine. If Tara wasn't in trouble, I'd have let the world fade away and gotten lost in a moment with him.
Chad's voice boomed again. "Like Clover said, Tara is good down here!" He tried to reach out to Tara, but the guy merely glanced back, trying to project intimidation.
"Sorry, bro, I didn't catch that. Speak up!" the jerk laughed, arrogance dripping from his words.
Chad let out a sarcastic chuckle. "You obviously heard something," I mumbled, frustration bubbling inside me. Just then, Tara stumbled down the stairs, her voice shaky.
"It's fine!" she called, but her body language said otherwise.
"I want to do this," Tara insisted, waving her hands to show Chad she was okay, but the jerk stepped down the stairs, grabbing her arm like she was a toy.
"See, Chad... she wants this," he sneered, dragging Tara backward, causing her to lose her balance.
A surge of protective fury ignited within me. "Hey, asswipe, what the fuck! Don't touch her!" I yelled, rushing toward Chad. Ethan was right behind me, a silent guardian ready to shield me.
In an instant, Chad lunged at the jerk, yanking him down the stairs. The jerk shoved past me, and I stumbled, but Ethan's strong arms caught me, and for a brief moment, the world faded away as we locked eyes, the air charged with unspoken tension.
"Now, how about you get your fucking hands off her!" Chad's voice thundered as I turned to help Tara back up.
Ethan quickly grabbed a water bottle for Tara to help sober her up. "Are you okay, Tara?" I asked, my heart racing as I watched her nod, relief flooding me when Ethan returned with the water.
"Let's get you sobered up," I said, handing her the bottle, gratitude swelling within me for Ethan's support. Just then, we turned to see the jerk shoving Chad hard.
