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"No, I'll take a cab, and if I see him at any point, I'll just wait in the car and call the police."
"You can't be serious. Why do you not want me with you tonight?"
She swallowed hard, putting both hands on her belly. I briefly imagined her announcing that she was pregnant, that we were going to have a baby.Jesus, where did that come from?I had no idea, and yet I desired it so intently that when her next words came out, they felt like a slap in my face.
"Because I want you to stay here and fix things with Maddox. Please, Jake? It would mean so much to me, to your family—Jeannie. Don't ruin your relationship with your brother for a fling."
"This is not a fling, Natalie," I said. "It's not. I love you."
"I love you too. But it doesn't change things, does it? And I told you once that I want to be someone who changes your life for the better, not for the worse."
"Natalie!" It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her that this was all a bit dramatic, but I knew that wasn't going to help the situation. Besides, she was visibly hurt. I wanted to be with her tonight. It frustrated me that she pushed me away.
"Look, there's a cab coming now. I'm going to flag it." The next second, she raised her hand, and the damn cab stopped in front of her.
"Natalie, I'll follow you in my car."
"That's not what I want, okay? Fix things with Maddox." The pleading in her eyes was visible, and though I wanted to do what she asked, I didn’t know how to make it up to Maddox when all that was on my mind was my woman. The need to protect her was fierce.
"Doesn't it matter what I want?" I asked.
"Yes, it does," she said. "I just... I can't tonight, okay? Just tonight."
I could see I was getting nowhere with her. Natalie could certainly be stubborn at times, and I didn’t want to be a controlling asshole boyfriend like her ex.
Fuck!I probably was being overprotective. I needed to accept this, even though all my instincts told me to do the opposite.
“Text me when you’re in your house so at least I know you’re safe.”
She got into the car and closed the door behind her before I could add anything else.
Chapter Thirty-One
Natalie
Istretched out onmy couch, wishing more than ever that I had AC. How was it this hot in here in September? It was definitely cooler outside. I went to the fridge, opening it and standing in front of it for a couple seconds, but that only made it worse. The living room seemed much hotter after that.
