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“Because,” I spoke, finally allowing my eyes to drift open to view the white puffy clouds above, “Loving you guys caused me unbearable pain and I refuse to ever go through that again. I can’t lose someone else, so it’s better if I don’t care.”
“Good luck with that,” Cayla sassed. “You can’t hate everyone forever.”
“I can try,” I growled, anger simmering in my veins at the imaginary voice.
“Love always finds a way in. Even if it’s not the kind of love you’re searching for.”
I pushed myself to my feet, shaking off the grass that clung to my jeans. Talking to my dead sister was taking things too far—even for me.
I headed home, determined to drink myself into oblivion so that the words I’d pretended my sister was whispering no longer existed.
???
Sutton
“Again with the fucking noise!”
I wasn’t surprised when Caelan came storming out of his apartment, angrier than he had been yesterday.
“They’re bringing a couch in,” I pointed to the furniture delivery guys, giving Caelan a bored look. “I’m sorry if their grunts disturbed you,” I said, my tone dripping with sarcasm.
His blue eyes sparkled with fire and I was surprised steam wasn’t coming out of his nose and ears. His hands fisted at his sides and his shoulders were tight with tension.
“Keep. The. Noise. Down. I’m working!” He shouted, his face red. A vein in his forehead threatened to explode.
My lips quirked into a crooked, challenging smile. Did this guy really think he could intimidate me? He was in for a rude awakening. I didn’t cower under pressure. I thrived on it.
“Buddy,” I started, eyeing him and completely unfazed, “you don’t scare me. That might work with other people, but it won’t work on me. Have you ever heard of these things called earplugs?” I pointed to my ears. “Or maybe headphones—then you could listen to music and forget the whole world still existed.”
“You think you’re real clever?” He seethed, but I swore there was amusement in his eyes, like he was enjoying the game we were playing.
“The cleverest,” I retorted, moving out of the way so the men could maneuver the large couch through the narrow doorway.
“I guess no one told you the rules when you moved in,” he gritted his teeth, “so I’m going to be nice and cut you some slack. Everyone knows, if you live here, you keep quiet. I need to work and I need silence.”
“You don’t own the place,” I countered haughtily, crossing my arms over my chest. I didn’t miss the way his eyes couldn’t help but caress the skin peeking out from the tank top I was wearing.
“That may be true,” he pointed a finger in my face, “but you don’t want to get on my bad side, Sutton,” he hissed my name like it was poisonous. I had to admit, I was surprised he remembered it.
“Trust me,” I smiled slowly, “I don’t want to be on any side of yours.”
His eyes narrowed, but he knew he’d lost this round. He turned to go back in his apartment and stopped short of closing the door. “Quiet.” Pleased that he had the final word, he closed the door.
I laughed, shaking my head.
This was going to be fun.
If he thought he could control me with a few bossy words, then he was in for a rude awakening.
Sutton Hale didn’t bow down to anyone. Least of all some conceited dickwad that thought the world owed him a favor.
???
After the guys delivering the couch left I decided to dress up a bit and walk around town to see if anyone was hiring.
I went into a few places, but none of them felt right.
I wasn’t even sure what I was searching for, but I’d know when I found it.
