I looked down at the finger pressing against my shoulder.
Then back into his eyes.
My voice stayed calm.
“So that’s your decision.”
He blinked.
“What?”
“You’ve decided not to walk away.”
His grin returned.
“What are you going to do about it?”
I held his stare for several long seconds.
When I finally spoke, my words were quiet enough that the entire street became silent trying to hear them.
“Travis.”
“You have exactly one opportunity left.”
“Take your hand off me.”
“Apologize to my daughter.”
“And walk back to your family.”
“Because if you take one more step…”
I paused.
“…today will become the worst mistake of your life.”
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Even the sprinkler seemed louder than before.
Behind Travis, one of his own training partners slowly lowered his arms.
He wasn’t looking at Travis anymore.
He was looking at me.
And for the first time since the cookout had begun…
Someone in Travis’s corner looked genuinely worried.
Part 5: The First Mistake
Nobody breathed.
Travis kept his finger against my shoulder.
He looked around the circle, searching for laughter that never came.
Grant finally broke the silence.
“What are you waiting for?” he shouted.
“She’s bluffing.”
“Everybody can see she’s bluffing.”
Travis smirked.
“You hear that?”
“My father knows exactly what you are.”
He pushed his finger harder against my shoulder.
“I’ve got one more step.”
“What happens now?”
I never looked away from his eyes.
“You’ve just used your last warning.”
He laughed.
“Warning?”
