The words she spat only moments ago, before I reluctantly—and probably stupidly—told her to leave him be, bounce around my head like a beating drum. Or maybe that’s just my heart, pumping its fist in solidarity, because what the hell is right.

“Get out,” Shawn says flatly.

I stiffen just as Mason sighs from behind me. “Shawn.”

“Are you serious?” Kate asks, eyes blazing.

Shawn’s tone remains scarily blank. “Do I look like I’m kidding?”

I can practically feel the steam coming out of her ears as she yanks her purse over her shoulder and stomps toward the door without a backward look.

The door slams shut behind her.

Turning, I face Shawn head-on and arch my brow.

He rolls his thumb over his zippo lighter—crrrrick, whoosh, snap—and lifts a challenging brow that has my fists clenching on instinct.

“Don’t mind his cranky ass,” Mason says tiredly as he pulls out a chair and sinks down.

Shawn’s dark gaze skitters over my face, searching, yet unreadable. Did he mean for me to leave as well?

Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I consider my options for all of two seconds before grabbing a chair. I twist it around and straddle it backward. “So. Are you guys always this dramatic, or is this just your way of welcoming me to town?”

Mason straightens in his seat, and surprise flashes across Shawn’s eyes. It’s so quick, that if I wasn’t watching so closely, I would have missed it completely. I get the feeling most people don’t challenge his surly ass. I guess I’m not most people.

“I’d say no,” Mason says slowly, his eyes squinting with the beginnings of a smile, “but that would probably be a lie.” He shoots his moody guitarist a look.

Why do I get the feeling I just passed some kind of test?

I’m not sure why it suddenly matters to me so much. Impressing them. Convincing them I’m someone worth keeping around, when they so clearly keep everyone else out.

Wasn’t it just hours ago that I promised myself I wouldn’t do this? That I would just stick to myself. Bide my time. Mute the world around me.

But the thing is, I don’t do bullshit. It’s not how I’m built. I’m no more likely to spew it than put up with someone else’s. And I’ve a feeling it’s been far too long since someone other than one of their own called them out on theirs.

I’m not going to put myself somewhere I’m not welcome. Somewhere I don’t feel wanted. Mason’s been great and all, but this isn’t just his space. It’s all of theirs. I’m the interloper here.

An outsider.

So either I hash this shit out right now, or I’m gone.