Page 80 of Locked in Wonderland

“I’m sorry,” I said. “You’re an incredibly attractive man. I’m grateful for what you did. And I know this probably sounds ridiculous considering everything that’s already happened between us.”

“But?” he asked coldly.

“But I have a boyfriend.”

Nico leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. And then he laughed.

I frowned. “I don’t think that’s funny.”

“I do. I think it’s hilarious.” His smile held no warmth. “You still don’t get it.”

I bristled. “Get what?”

“You’re like a newborn deer trying to find its legs.”

I didn’t appreciate the analogy and opened my mouth to say so. Unfortunately, he still had more to say.

“A sloth in a sprint. A dog chasing its own tail. A―”

“I get it. You can stop.”

“Do you?”

“You think I’m useless.”

“Not useless.” His expression turned thoughtful. “Just blind. I guess you don’t want to see.”

“See what?”

His gaze locked onto mine with all the precision of a missile finding its target. “You don’t have a boyfriend.”

The words landed like a slap.

“So all this sickly sweet loyalty is completely misplaced.”

“I do have a boyfriend. Warren and I had plans. A future. He was going to move so we could be together. He and I—”

Nico shoved his chair back so violently that I flinched. The rest of the sentence died in my throat.

“I suspect if I tell you, you won’t believe me.” His voice had gone frighteningly calm. “He’s done too good a number on you.”

I stared up at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means I’m going to have to show you.”

“Show me what?”

He headed for the door. “Come.”

I should have told him exactly what he could do with an order like that. Instead, I got up and followed.

Chapter Twenty-six

Nico returned to being silent as he led me through the streets of Wonderland, refusing to answer any of the questions I threw at him.

And I had a lot of them.

What had he meant when he said I was blind?