#Chapter 65: The Mask

Ardal I can feel my heart pounding in my chest and I see Kadeem’s eyes flash with anger. He steps forward, looking Jack squarely in the eye. “What if there was? What would it matter to you?” His words drip with contempt as he gazes at Jack, challenging him. My mind reels at this sudden confrontation between them and I try desperately to think of something to say that will diffuse the situation before it gets out of hand, but before I have a chance, Jack speaks up, his face now bright red with indignation. Jack swallows hard to compose himself, but his hands are trembling. “It’s clearly not just me who finds your attention unacceptable,” he spats out in an appalled tone. In an instant, Jack has won me over. He’s sensitive to my writhing discomfort, and he’s not just trying to win a pissing match with Kadeem. Instead, he’s focused on a chivalrous defense to preserve my dignity. “And it matters to me,” he says, “Because Chelsea is my girlfriend, and I don’t appreciate the way yo