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“With me, I now see that you’ve been forcing it.” He smiled sadly. “I would never want you to do that, no matter how much I want you. I want you to do tequila shots with him, joke with him. Be happy. And protected. He will definitely be able to do that better than me.”
Tequila shots.
It clicked. He was talking about Colby. He thoughtColbywas the man I had a thing with.
I opened my mouth to correct him then quickly closed it again. If I denied it, then I’d have to tell him the truth, or come up with some convincing lie. No. That wouldn’t work. There was no harm in letting him believe a little white lie that would spare his feelings and make my life a little easier.
“Although I’m surprised he wasn’t madder at that other guy pulling you away like that,” he frowned. “Though he came up and explained that it had to do with your mother’s restaurant, something about a party to celebrate her feature inFood & Wine… I wouldn’t think a biker would be overly concerned with that, but it’s nice to see.”
I swallowed a hysterical laugh that hovered in my throat at the thought of Elden being concerned with party planning. And then I silently thanked my friend for having my back.
I nodded somberly, trying to gather myself. “I really am sorry, Bennett,” I said sincerely. “I never wanted to hurt you. And I really do like you.”
He smiled at me, reaching to tuck my hair behind my ear. I forced myself not to recoil , hoping Elden wasn’t looking from a secret perch somewhere.
“I know,” he stepped back. “But not in the right way. And that’s fine. We can be friends… If you want?”
“I really do want that,” I replied honestly. “You really are a really good guy, and you will find a girl who deserves you.”
“Let’s hope so. I’ll make sure to ask my next date whether they have a connection to a motorcycle club because I now know I cannot compete with bikers.”
I flashed him a genuine smile. “Please stay,” I nodded to where music had started to thump. “We’re having a more … reserved dinner at my mom’s house, and I’d like you to be there.”
Bennett looked past me to where a car was loitering outside the gates. The Prospect guarding had his hand on the inside of his cut looking a little too trigger happy for my liking.
“That’s my ride,” Bennett told me, eyes narrowing at the Prospect. “And I should probably go rescue them.”
“No, you don’t have to leave,” I told him, thinking how incredibly horrible it was that he’d be alone and rejected during the rest of Christmas.
“I do,” he refuted with a sad smile. “Plus, I’ve actually got a friend in the area who is more than happy to have me for their dinner, though I doubt it will be as fun as yours was.” His sad smile quickly morphed into a happier one. “I’ll see you at school, okay, Violet?”
I nodded. “We’ll have lunch,” I said firmly.
He bobbed his head in affirmation, gave me one last look, then walked away.
It was only after I got back inside that I realized I was still wearing his coat. And that was only because Elden was staring daggers at me. Or more accurately, at the other man’s coat on my body.
I hastily took it off, making a mental reminder to send it back to him with an apology note of some kind. Though I wasn’t sure what I could write in an apology note for dragging him all the way out here and ruining his Christmas
My mother and Swiss were settled on the sofa, so I sank down beside them, leaning into my mother before kissing Declan’s little head as he was cradled in her arms.
“Where did Bobart go?” Swiss asked with disinterest, smiling down at his son.
I scowled. “It’s Bennett, and you know it. And he went home. It didn’t work out.”
“We scared him off, did we? Good, he wasn’t right for you,” Swiss said at the same time my mother said, “Honey, I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
“You didn’t scare him off,” I glowered at Swiss. “I just never liked him in the first place. He’s too … nice.”
Mom quirked a brow at me. “There is no such thing as too nice.”.
I raised my own brow back. “Yeah, youreallywent for the nice guy,”
“I’m nice,” Swiss argued.
I stared at him in disbelief.
“I’m nice tomostpeople.”
