Damn, You're Cute (Michael Clifford)

Chapter 73

"Michael, what the hell was that?" I asked in a clipped tone as we hurried down the stairs. We left Jesse and his followers in the room without looking back.

"I'll explain everything, I just want to get you out of here," he told me with his hand on my lower back, leading me out since I had no idea where the front door was.

"Get me out of here?" I repeated and stopped in my tracks, speaking above the music. "We have to find Calum!"

"He'll be fine," Michael said with annoyance and opened the door for me. "Please, let's just go."

"But what if he gets involved in all of that? I don't want him to deal with those guys," I refused to walk out that door, but Michael gripped my elbow as firmly as he could without hurting me and towed me outside. "Michael, stop!"

"Damn it, Leah! Can't you see I just don't want you in there?" he shouted and slammed the door behind him. My mouth gaped open for a moment, letting his yelling sink in until Michael squeezed his fingers into a fist. He slowly let his fingers unfold. "Look, I don't want to fight with you. I'm just a bit...stressed right now."

"I know you were just worried about me, but you didn't have to yell," I said quietly and looked down at my shoes. Michael sighed and cupped my face with both hands.

"Just worried? Leah, I was more than just worried," he told me with a soft voice, but urgently as well. "I've dealt with those guys before and they were troublesome with only me around, but the moment you were in that room too...That was my worst nightmare! Seeing you around them, that's something I never wanted to happen."

I was frightened of those guys, but I could see how upset it would make him if I said it again. "I'm fine though."

"I know, but the way they talked about you," Michael said angrily through his teeth. "And they way they even looked at you. I swear to God, they were practically undressing you with their eyes."

My stomach flipped when he said that, but I made no move to tell him how much I hated that situation. It wouldn't have helped if I did, so instead I dwelled on a different matter.

"I didn't like how you changed around them," I admitted and stared into his eyes. They fluttered shut momentarily as he nodded, his eyelashes brushing his pale cheekbones. "From the moment you saw them, you got just as cold as Jesse."

"I know and I'm so sorry. I can explain everything," he promised, starting toward the car. "Just let me take you home and we can discuss everything."

"But Calum-"

"Calum will be fine," Michael was clearly growing impatient. "He can handle himself."

I shook my head. "But those guys..."

"He'll be okay, I'm sure of it," he comforted me, but I furrowed my eyebrows.

"You didn't have such a certain attitude about this before," I pointed out. "We're not leaving Calum here just because you want a restraining order on every guy upstairs."

"It's true," Michael couldn't bite back his smile. "I don't want you involved with them. I don't want you to ever see them again."

"I don't either, but we're not leaving him," I made my final decision, crossing my arms over my chest. "We came here for a reason so let's follow through."

"He's dealt with these guys before, Leah. Just get in the damn car," he was practically begging me.

"Jesse had no idea who Calum was. How could he have dealt with him before?" I nipped at the tiny detail. Michael groaned and ran his hand over his face.