“Just fucking stay there.”

He didn’t move. She obviously wasn’t letting him drip water through her place like last time. Not that he blamed her. He was lucky she’d even let him in.

“I’m truly sorry,” he said again as she returned with a big fluffy towel that she tossed at him.

“Yeah, you said.”

“I really am. It should’ve never escalated to that extreme, but Sean shouldn’t have spoken to you like that.”

“I’m a big girl. I can take it.”

Cherisse had looked stricken by that asshole’s words. Sean’s jab about Keiran’s careless words added fuel to the fire and set him off. Because Sean wasn’t wrong. Sure, he’d made the public apology she’d asked for. Didn’t make what he’d said any less shitty.

She sat down on the couch, cross-legged, and gestured to the floor. He wasn’t getting any dry clothes either, so he’d have to ride out this storm soaked.

“How’s the face?”

“Little sore,” he admitted. He stretched out the fingers on his right hand. “Hand’s a little twingey, but not too painful.”

“You should put some ice on it, but my ass isn’t getting up to do it.” Her steely gaze pinned him in place. “You should’ve just walked away. I haven’t even checked social media at all, but I can imagine what everyone’s saying. I’m not trying to blow up my career because of you two. Sean likes the attention. I doubt this is the kind of thing you want sticking to you when it comes to your work.”

It wasn’t. Shit. Sierra would be within her rights to blacklist him. She’d probably never want to work with DK Productions again. He hoped this wouldn’t lose them business. He hadn’t even thought of that in the heat of things.

“I messed up.” He scrubbed a hand over his face, blocking out Cherisse’s face for a moment. When he brought her in his sights again, she was looking at the TV.

She sighed deeply. “I didn’t ask you to come to my rescue, and definitely not like that.”

“I know. I wasn’t thinking about anything but shutting his ass up.”

“Yeah, I won’t lie to you, his words hurt. Not because I’m ashamed of any additional pounds on my ass, but he just knows how to pick at my insecurities and get under my skin. I’m so angry at you right now, but myself, too.” She ducked her head, finger picking at the hem of her top. “I thought he couldn’t make me feel so small ever again, but I was wrong, clearly.”

“Fuck him. He didn’t deserve you.”

She gave him a sidelong glance, eyes flashing. “And what? You think you do?”

“I never said that.” He truly hadn’t fought Sean with any ulterior motive. He’d just wanted the guy to shut the fuck up and not hurt Cherisse. Okay, maybe he’d also not wanted him to let on about them working together. Which, if he told her about now, wouldn’t go over well.