Page 164 of Toxic Kiss

“Sorry, no exact time, but the paperwork has been started.”

“Thanks.”

Once Grimes leaves, I walk over and set the coffee down beside Drunk Jesus. Then I push the sweatshirt through the bars to Haven.

Her voice is soft when she thanks me and takes the hoodie to pull it on. It’s huge, and she looks fucking delicious wearing my clothes. She brings her knees up and pulls the hoodie over them like she’s curling up inside of it.

My lip twitches. Some things never change.

“I want to try and explain something. I believed that liking you would do nothing but hurt me.”

“Hurt you…I don’t understand.”

“I watched the destruction of my parents’ marriage. They went from two people who loved one another, all cute and sappy, to cold and distant. Their personalities changed until they were very different people. They couldn’t be in the same room without fighting over something, but mostly me. I thought that having a girlfriend would lead me down the same path.”

My eyes dart to hers, forcing myself to look at the girl who stole my heart so long ago.

“When my feelings changed, I panicked. I realized that you were fucking gorgeous, sweet, funny, and I could be myself around you. I’d fallen for you, and because of that, I needed to crush the cause.”

“So, you went from pushing me away because you hated me, to alienating me from everyone and treating me like crap because you were scared?”

“Yeah.” My shoulders rise and fall as I take a deep breath. “I did. Sounds worse when you say it out loud.”

Haven pinches the bridge of her nose, a sign that a headache is brewing. I want to hold her, but these stupid bars are in the way.

“Lame, Cy. I really want to say that is guy logic, but no…that’s just you, logic.”

I chuckle, and the sound is sad because it’s true.

“At least you admit it,” she says, wrapping her arms around her knees and laying her head on them as she looks at me. “Is that why you sabotaged every relationship I tried to have?”

The groan slips out before I can stop it and confirms my guilt.

“Shit. Yeah.” I shift around to look at her. “If I couldn’t have you…no one could. I’m still like that, Haven. I will bury anyone who tries to take you from me.”

“You have serious issues,” Haven says, rolling her eyes.

There is no wiping the stupid smile off my face when her cheeks turn bright pink.

Reaching through the bars, I cup her face and gently trace the red line. Fuck, she really went to battle for me.

“I mean it.”

“So, do I,” she says. “That’s messed up.”

“You look fucking incredible tonight,” I say, changing the subject. “And you really kicked that chick’s ass. That was hot, like really hot. If the whole place hadn’t erupted, I would’ve fucked you in front of her.”

The tension is instant. Haven licks her lips like she’s picturing me doing it.

“You need your head examined.”

“Been there, done that, even bought the t-shirt and the docs still don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

She shakes her head.

“You shouldn’t joke about it.”

I lift my shoulder and let it drop.