Page 45 of Blush Crush

His jaw works. He drags his eyes from my arm to my face. “You can’t go out with him.”

So, he knew exactly what he was doing. Clearly, he’s lost his mind. “And you think you have a say because…”

“Ariana—”

“No.” I lower my voice, aware of the way sound travels in this building. “You don’t get to disappear for months and run off a guy I’ve been crushing on, right when he’s about to finally ask me out! That’s not—” I stop, pressing my fingers to the bridge of my nose. “You don’t have that right, Cole.”

He at least has the wherewithal to appear guilty, maybe even some remorse. That, or he’s awfully good at faking it.

“You can’t go out with him,” he repeats, the conviction in his voice weak.

“Why?” I’m not sure why I’m bothering to ask. There’s nothing he can say to justify his actions.

“Because I won’t let you.”

CHAPTER 13

Cole

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Desperation will cause a man to make a fool of himself.

I wasn’t thinking logically. All I saw was Wes standing too close to Ariana. I knew exactly what he was doing—he was asking her out—and suddenly my vision was filled with red-hot rage. I couldn’t stand there and continue to witness my own personal hell. I had to make it stop—by any means necessary.

“You won’t let me?” She crosses her arms, her voice carrying more bite than I’m used to hearing from her. “Last time I checked, I’m the one who makes decisions about my own life. I don’t answer to you, and I don’t need your approval.”

“You’re misunderstanding me,” I say quickly, already trying to backtrack. “What I’m saying is you can’t go out with himyet.”

She lets out a frustrated breath but doesn’t move to leave.

It’s not exactly a win, but I’ll take it.

“I can’t believe I’m about to ask this,” she mutters under her breath. “What do you mean yet?”

“Think about it.” I say, the excuse forming faster than I expected. “He’s been coming in for coffee since the summer and he’s only asking you out now. Why now? If you say yes, you’remaking it too easy for him. You need to make him pursue you. Chase you. Make it difficult.”

She searches my face for a long moment, the line of irritation across her forehead slowly easing. “I’m not interested in playing games.”

“It’s not a game. He needs to see you have other options or he’s going to treat you the way he probably treats every other woman. Like she’s disposable.”

“He’s not you, Cole.”

Her words hit their mark. More painful because they’re true. I’ve always treated things in my life like they’re temporary. Not just my relationships with women, but friendships, family—everything. If you convince yourself nothing lasts forever, then you can’t get hurt when it ends.

I wish I wasn’t that guy. I wish I was wired differently. I’m fucked up, but at least I’m self-aware enough to admit it.

I’m also selfish. So fucking selfish. She wants to go out with this Wes fucker, she actually likes this guy. And I don’t care. If that makes me the bad guy, I’m happy with the title. No matter how wrong it is, I’m going to do or say anything I need to in order to stop this.

Maybe the pipe bursting was divine intervention, if such a thing exists. Because for whatever reason, it happened today—giving me the chance to shut this down before it’s too late.

“You’ve never really dated before.” The words coming out more erratic than I intended. “Do you really want your first try to be with him? Fumbling around and figuring it out with a guy that much older than you? He could easily manipulate you and you wouldn’t even realize it.”

Her skin turns scarlet, from both anger and embarrassment.

It was low of me to use her inexperience against her, but I really do think he’d manipulate her. Definitely use her. He’s all wrong for her—she’s just too enamored with him to see it.

“So, what?” she snaps. “I’m supposed to pretend to date some random guy just to make Wes jealous and learn how to date at the same time? That’s ridiculous.”