Page 61

His head snapped toward her. “What?”

“I mean…”

“Are you sleeping with someone?”

His words stung like he’d whipped her with them.

She visibly recoiled. “Excuse me?” They’d had sex days ago. When had she had time to meet someone else to fuck? What kind of woman did he think she was?

Closing his eyes, he exhaled heavily. “I’m sorry.” He turned away from her and focused on the little inkpots at his station. “I shouldn’t have said that—it was out of line.”

She lifted her chin, but the wound from his words was still fresh. Carefully, she tugged her leggings up as much as she could. Thankfully, it was late and the majority of the strip mall was closed, so she wouldn’t run into anyone outside when she left.

Carrie scooted off the table. “Thank you,” she said stiffly.

“Carrie,” he said, reaching for her, but she evaded his touch and waved him off. “I didn’t—”

He stepped closer to her.

She fell back. “It’s fine, Colt.”

Kid halted with a jolt. His eyes opened wide at the sound of his legal name. She’d always known it but understood he preferred his biker nickname.

Turning on her heel, satisfied that she’d knocked him off-balance, she twisted away from him.

“I’ll see you around,” she said as she marched out of the tattoo studio.

37

Carrie

With her blood boiling, Carrie left the tattoo shop enraged. Here she’d thought Kid was different. He’d been so kind while he stayed at her apartment, but apparently now that he’d moved out, he didn’t have to be nice anymore. When he didn’t need a place to stay, he could be his true asshole self.

Just like every other biker. He’d used her. Mike did for sex. Kid for shelter. Why did she keep falling for these kinds of pricks? Did she have no sense of self-worth? Decency? What was wrong with her?

Seething, she uncurled and curled her fingers around the steering wheel as she waited at the intersection. Replaying the last few minutes of their interaction fueled her anger. His sharp words, laced with accusation, cut her deeper than any knife.

Mike had physically harmed her. He’d left a mark on her. While Kid’s actions weren’t as brutal, they were still damaging. He hurt her emotionally. He masqueraded as a decent human being. At least Mike had been authentic. He was always a prick. Kid pretended he wasn’t, and she fell for it.

“What happened?” Kelsey asked on the other end of the phone.

Unable to process this herself, Carrie had called her best friend to work through what had happened. “He accused me of sleeping around.”

“Kid?” Kelsey asked.

“Yep.” Carrie jammed her foot on the gas the moment the light changed.

“Why would he care?”

Right? That was Carrie’s point. They weren’t exclusive. Never once had they had that discussion. How dare he judge her! Even if she was banging twelve dudes a day, that would be none of his damn business. They weren’t a couple.

Well. Maybe they should’ve discussed it. If they were going around fucking everyone that crossed their paths, a talk about STD exposure would be wise. There she was repeating old patterns again. She needed to be a more responsible adult.

A problem for another day.

“Your guess is as good as mine. We weren’t dating. Merely two people living in the same apartment for a while who fucked on occasion.”

Simple. Convenient. No muss. No fuss. Until he started this bullshit. Goddamn asshole. Men. Leave it to them to ruin a good situation.