“Wedon’t have company.Ido.” She looked back at Dingleberry. “Sorry about him. He’s just my?—”
“Boyfriend. I’m her boyfriend.” I stepped up behind her, holding my hand out to Dickhead.
“You are not my boyfriend.” She hissed slapping my hand away with a glare. It was probably a good thing, too. I was back to being unnaturally cold, I might have given myself away. “He’snot my boyfriend. He’s just a friend. His apartment has rats so I offered my couch, but I’m having regrets.”
Was it weird I found that hot—how easy the lie rolled off her tongue? Watching her on the phone with Eva earlier made me irrationally horny. But that could also have to do with her blind trust in me. Even though she wasn’t fully convinced, she still lied for me—kept my secret.
Shithead’s eyes flickered over me—still mostly wet with water dipping off my hair. Then he glanced at Violet—damp hair, oversized white t-shirt mostly covering her blue and white polka dot pajama shorts. His eyebrow rose.
“Do you shower with all your friends?”
He was unnervingly calm. I totally had him pegged as the jealous type, guess I was wrong.
“No, I showered before he got here. Did you miss the part where his apartment was infested with rats? I wasn’t about to let him relax until he was thoroughly cleaned. I don't need the plague because he dragged fleas in here.”
I snorted. Man, she was good. So much confidence, just the right amount of irritation. I knew the truth but fuck, I almost believed her.
“It didn’t matter how much I insisted I didn’t have fleas. She absolutely put her foot down, even made me buy new clothes before she let me step foot in here. She is a stubborn woman,” I added.
Violet scoffed.
“Plus, he smelt like shit. I wasn’t about to let him stink up my couch. Anyway, no, I haven’t seen or heard from Avalanche, and even if I had, I wouldn’t tell you.”
Eyeballs sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I don’t know what else I have to do to convince you I’m on your side, Violet.”
“Not showing up to my door at 10:30 p.m. asking about a guy I barely know, who took five bullets on the news tonight, would be a good start. I’ve never let one of you step foot in the hospital, why do you think I’d turn over a guy who’s likely half dead, if not fully dead?”
“I told you I don’t want to be here. The chief thinks?—”
“I quite honestly don’t give a shit what that pompous asshole thinks. You want me to believe you’re on my side, act like it. Now if that’s all, I need to go to bed.”
“Yes, of course.” His eyes dropped to the floor. “Again, sorry to bother you so late. Have a good night, Miss Hayes.”
“She will,” I called as the door swung shut.
She turned around, shoving my chest so hard and unexpectedly I almost lost my balance.
“You’re such a shit! What the hell were you thinking? He could have recognized you!”
“I was thinking that I gave you one simple order and you couldn’t even follow it.” I took a step forward; she took one back. “I was thinking that you were supposed to be waiting for me but instead you were talking to man that wants you.” Another step forward; another step back. “I was thinking that I wanted to rip his eyeballs out of their sockets for looking at you.” Her back hit the door behind her and I pinned her to it. “I was thinking that he needed to know you’re mine.”
“You sound like a jealous and possessive asshole.” Her voice shook, her breathing heavy.
“I am a jealous and possessive asshole. The thought of another man breathing the same air as you drives me fucking insane. And now that I’ve had you…” I dropped my forehead to hers. “Say you’ll be mine. Please,” I whispered.
She lifted her hand to rest on my chest, my heart was pounding against her palm.
“You mean it? You’re not just hopped up on adrenaline? You won’t regret asking in the morning?”
“Never.” I gently tilted her chin, forcing her gaze to meet mine. “The only regret I have is trying to push you away. I don’t just want you, Nightshade, I need you. So please, say you’ll be mine. Say you won’t go out with that doofus again.”
The smile she wore lit up her whole face—she was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.
“I would like nothing more than to never see him again. I only went out with him to try and make you jealous.”
I shook my head but that didn’t stop my lip from twitching into a small smile.
