Page 26 of A Wild Darkness

“Stevie?” the man on the other side of the door speaks. “I know you’re home. I need to talk to you.”

He knocks again. “Stevie? Open up. It’s Nick.”

Nick paces a few times in the hallway. Who is he? Should I answer the door and demand to know how he is? That’s something my cousin would do, but would I do that? Maybe.

“Please answer me.” He knocks again, then rests his forehead on the wooden doorframe. “I know it’s been a little while since you broke things off, but I still think about you every day.”

I roll my eyes. Okay, so they used to be a thing. If we’re going to be fake dating, we need to commit, especially because Society needs to truly believe we are a couple.

“You said you weren’t into anything serious, and I get that. But why can’t we just be together like we were, casually? I’m sorry I was getting too attached, but I care about you⁠—”

Casually? Like casual sex with Stevie? Why do I get hit with a pang of jealousy?

I need to make sure he really gets the hint and never comes back to her place again. Jerking off my leather jacket, then pulling my shirt over my head, I swing the door open and face him shirtless.

The man’s eyes widen in surprise when he sees me.

“Hello,” I say.

He folds his arms over his chest defensively. “Who the fuck are you?”

“Sebastian.”

“I’m Nick.”

“Can I help you?”

“Is, uh, Stevie home?”

I shake my head. “She’s not.”

Nick’s jaw clenches. “Okay, well. Can you tell her I came by?”

“No.”

A chuckle escapes his mouth. “I’m sorry, what?”

“No. I won’t,” I repeat, more sternly this time. “It’s time to move on, Nick.”

“So what, you’re her new fuck buddy?” he spits.

I click my tongue. “You could say that.”

“Unbelievable.” He steps back, pushing against the wall. “Of course she’d move on this fast. She’s afraid of commitment. Just so you know.”

“I don’t care.” I smile at him. “It’s over. Move on, man. Or I can help you move on.”

His eyes narrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

I blow out a breath. “I think you know what that means. Now, do not come back here again.”

“Or what?” he challenges.

“You really don’t want to mess with me,” I threaten. “I’m going to close the door, and if you know what’s best for you, you’ll find a new woman to bother.”

Then I slam the door, without hearing a response.

I’m back inside Stevie’s apartment with a list of questions for her. If she is going to do this with me, I need full access to her. I need trust. I need to know if there’s a man in her life that she’d speak with about this, even if it is a simple random fuck. I’m not the type of man who will accept anything less.