“I don’t.” Unless it’s attached to a constellation of freckles, I don’t want any ears.
“You do,” Dec counters.
“Nope.”
“Yep,” Boss snaps right back.
“Fuck, I’m fine,” I groan, snatching my coat off the hanger. “I’d tell you guys if I wasn’t.”
“You’re pretending to date someone who you caught assault charges over,” Declan says, flashing me his index finger, which tells me this is going to be a list of things that they think is wrong with me, and that’s just great, isn’t it?
“Who I think you have real feelings for, but that’s not my business,” Boss mutters.
“Your reputation is in tethers, and though it’s on the mend and you’re naturally fucking loveable, you’ve got a lot of pressure on your shoulders.” That’s finger two.
I can’t complain about that when getting my reputation back has been the easiest thing in the world with Arden on my arm. If I’m naturally lovable, she’s naturally mystifying. People are in awe of how alluring she is. They want to know more about her, but her social media is like Fort Knox—making her even more intriguing for them.
She’s made this easy. My charges haven’t trended in weeks.
“You’re going to have to go to court to deal with these charges and handle public relations before, during, and after thatshitstorm.”
“You’re probably going to have to lie under oath about the girlfriend, too,” Boston adds.
“Will youstop?” I bark at him. He’s particularly pissing me off tonight.
He meets my eyes, his fingers halting on his thigh. I expect him to just roll his eyes, or to nod and shut up for the rest of the night, but he doesn’t. Instead, he drops his hand and stands up, meeting me eye-to-eye.
“No,” he snaps. He puffs out his chest a bit, like he’d ever fucking fight me. “Not until you admit this is all a bit too much for you. You’ve dug yourself a hole, and that’s fine, we understood, but it’s too deep now. You need to let us get you out of it.”
“What doesthatmean?”
“He wants you to stop the charade with Arden,” Declan says, and I hear the wince in his voice.
My eyes widen, my chest flaring to life with a fresh wave of anger. Over my dead body is that fucking happening. “Oh, you do, do you?”
“I think it’s the best decision,” Boss says, not backing down and not dropping my glare. “I’ve watched you, Fork. I’ve watched her. You’re fucking in it now. I’m starting to wonder if you remember this isn’t real half the time.”
“You don’t know shit about it,” I seethe, because fuck him. He’s not dictating anything when it comes to her. When it comes to what she’s managed to bring into my life in a few short weeks. “And since when doyou,Mr. Mysterious, butt into people’s lives?”
“I like her,” Boston says, and that makes my temper simmer a bit. “A lot, actually. I think she’s good shit, and I think she’d be good for you, but unless you guys figure it out, this fake relationship thing is going to explode in your face and you won’t be able to handle it.”
“Again,” I snap, raising my head to the ceiling and sucking in a deep breath. “I know what I’m doing.”
“Where were you last night?” Boston asks.
I drop my head to look at him, brows furrowing. I waswallowing in self-pity. Is a man not allowed to do that anymore?
“Boss,” Declan warns.
Boston holds his hand up to stop him. His green eyes burn into mine. “Where were you? What were you doing?”
I just stare at him, my jaw ticking, because I might not be the brightest guy in the world, but I know when I’m missing something. There’s a piece of the puzzle here that is about to be snapped into place, and I have no clue what it looks like or who is holding it.
“Why?” I bite out.
He huffs a laugh, shaking his head. He doesn’t answer, just turns around, still shaking that dumb head, and begins to pack up his things.
“Why?”I ask again. He’s going to make me work for it. Prick.
