“For their accreditation,” Rourke said, sliding a hand onto her shoulder from behind.
“Rourke, your friend, he says I don’t have to go back there.”
Twisting, she looked at him over her shoulder for an explanation.
“Didn’t we already pick a place closer to us?”he asked.
“Yes, but…”
Fuck.She couldn’t swear, her mom didn’t like it.In a manic phase, her mom could make a sailor blush, but when she was coming down again, anything could set her off again.
His brows rose.“But…?”
Sucking her teeth, she surrendered in a whisper.“We have to talk about boundaries.”
His expression sharpened.“Have you been talking to Z?”
“I’m getting tired,” her mom said, her eyes closing.
“We’ll let you sleep, okay?”
“No, stay,” her mom said, grabbing for her.“Stay until I’m asleep.”
“Okay,” she said, bringing her mom’s hand to her cheek.“We’ll stay.We’re here.”
THIRTY-NINE
“YOU DIDN’T HAVE to stay,” she said as they stepped into the elevator after her mom was asleep.“I appreciate you did, but you didn’t have to.”
“Oh, whatever, Radley,” he said, tossing an arm around her shoulders, using her as an anchor as he swayed over to hit the button.“Why’d you want to talk about boundaries?Where’d I overstep?”
“You didn’t overstep anywhere.There is no overstep between us.”
“Right, that’s what I thought.So what’s the problem?”
“You shouldn’t do things that make me want to rip your clothes off when you’re in faithful mode.”Wow, and she’d thought their dynamic wouldn’t change?Didn’t most of what he said turn her on?“Maybe we should draw up a flowchart.That kiss earlier was probably over the line.”
Maybe.Could be.If Diva found out, but lies weren’t a sound foundation for a relationship.
“Faithful mode?”Confusion colored his words.“Who’s in faithful mode?”
“Your relationship with Diva might be new, but she’s an ex.That means it’s basically serious from the get-go.Oh, why am I still educating you, caveman?”
“Why am I with Diva?”
“Screwing a woman like Diva, an ex like Diva, slots you in as boyfriend.Fully committed and faithful boyfriend.Maybe I’ll find myself a boy toy.If I have to do all this educating anyway, I might as well have young and eager, right?”
The doors opened and she went to exit, except his hand landed on the frame, blocking her in.
“Diva came to the door last night.I told her to throw anything she wanted at us, we’re rock solid and so long as I’ve got you in my corner, nothing else matters to me more.”She blinked.“Then you went and sent out your crazy statement.What the hell do you have on Knox that you got him to—Roxie.It was Roxie, right?”She said nothing.“Diva is not back in my life or my bed, and no, we don’t do ultimatums, but so long as we’re playing at absolutes, here’s one you have to get through your thick skull…” Stooping, his fierce, sure, definite gaze locked onto hers.“The answer to that question will always be you.I pick you.You pick me.We don’t do ultimatums because when you’re one of the options, I’ll always pick you.”
He’d always pick her.
Just like she’d always pick him.
That was the trade.The deal.The contract.
Taking her hand, he pulled her out of the elevator and through corridors.They would always pick each other.Whether it ruined him or not.Her or not.He’d always pick her.That wasn’t a default position.That was a concrete, no confusion, completely unapologetic stance.
