Page 131 of Challenge Me

“I took care of it,” I said.

“Yeah, by pulling your fucking gun on him and threatening his life. That’s a grand idea, Rem.”

“Don’t swear please.”

He frowned at the floor. “I worry so much about you.”

Taking both sides of his face, I dropped my forehead against his. “You sweet on me, Oli? You should’ve told me years ago.”

He swatted me in the chest when I tried to go in for a kiss, and it felt right when both of us smiled.

“What did Amir say about Cole’s special?”

I shrugged. “I haven’t talked to him.”

“Why not?”

“When it’s one thing after another, there’s going to come a point when there’s no reason to keep trying.”

“Oh, that’s a bunch of bull. Stop trying to bring your baggage into this.”

“I dropped it at the door, but it’s grown legs and mutated.”

“What’s really the problem?”

“You’re the psychologist here.”

“Not yet, but since you were my first patient . . .” His hazel eyes squinted as he took me in. Tapping his finger on his chin, he hummed thoughtfully. “Ah-ha! I’ve got it. You think you have to earn being treated like a king, and you don’t think you’re capable of doing that.”

“That’s a given, yet I haven’t run away thus far. Try again, Doctor Bennett.”

“You’re scared of what Cole will do.”

I snorted. “No. Let him come near Amir or my Little Valkyrie. I wasn’t kidding when I said I’d kill him.”

“Alright, alright. Remi’s in his Guts era. That means . . .” He trailed off, deep in thought. “This is also about you.”

“Go on.”

“You hate dragging Amir down in all this, but that’s not what’s eating at you right now. Your entire life is coming out to the world, more than you ever expected it would. This has become bigger than you were prepared for.”

“Would you want everything, your entire past, scrutinized and broadcast for the entertainment of the masses?”

“You didn’t sign up for this,” he agreed. “But when have you ever cared what the world thinks of you?”

I leaned back against the opposite counter and picked up a glass to turn over in my hands. “It’s not about what they think. They’re using my past and twisting it into something that it’s not. Every bad thing that’s ripped me apart from the inside is feed for these goddamned zombies. He told her about Charlotte.” I tightened my grip on the glass, then pulled it back and hurled it at the wall. “It’s not fucking fair, and I have no control over it.”

Oli flinched when it shattered.

I closed my eyes, shaking my head. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize for feeling things.”

“I don’t want to become this. I can’t keep defending myself against the literal goddamn villains.” My chest ached as it all settled. “What gives them the right to take my pain and turn it into a game?”

I heard Oli drop his feet to the floor, then his arms came around me. He held me tightly, gripping the back of my neck to tuck my face against his shoulder.

“You’re right. It’s not fair. So, what do you want to do?”