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The things that we do for the best.
Lars~
Edie knew that something was up, but instead of calling me on it, she’d gone back to ignoring me, and I really couldn’t fault her this time. When I had picked her up from school this morning, I’d gone out of my waynotto touch her, and the soft kiss on my cheek that she had given me had been met with a strained smile and nothing more.
Once we’d gotten to school, Calliope and Deidra had been waiting for her in the student parking lot, and like a coward, I’d gone in the opposite direction, leaving her to her new friends. After last night, with Dad’s voice in my ear, I’d never been so aware of how many cellphones were out and about, and with privacy no longer an option anymore because of those damn phones, I had no choice but to keep my distance until I could talk to Talon this weekend. Hell, if I could even wait that long. Now that Dad knew what was going on, I seriously doubted that he’d get me in trouble if I ditched school tomorrow to go talk to Talon.
However, all my good intentions vanished when I rounded the corner to see Edie talking with Timothy Freeman, and love really wasn’t for the weak. Women liked to bitch that we were the ones that drove them crazy, but it was the other way around. Women generally went to prison for their spouse’s life insurance; men went to prison because women legitimately drove them fucking insane.
Embracing my newfound insanity, I walked up to them, stepping directly in between them like an insecure asshole. “Can I help you, Freeman?”
His blue eyes widened, but he was smart enough to throw his hands up in mock surrender. “I was just talking to Edie about the project that Mr. Campos just assigned us. Relax, Finley.”
“Can you stop being a dickhead?” Edie hissed behind me.
“Nope,” I replied, popping the word for emphasis.
“I was just talking shop, Lars,” Timothy repeated. “Honest.”
“Well, you can talk to her about it later,” I told him, relenting a little because she was going to have guys in her classes, whether I liked it or not. “Right now, we’re busy.”
“No problem,” he muttered before turning around and going about his business.
“Jesus Christ, Lars,” Edie swore. “What’s your damage?”
I whirled around on her. “I’m just getting really fucking tired of seeing you with other guys,” I snapped.
“So, is that it?” she asked, arching a brow in attitude. “You have no use for me unless another guy comes sniffing around me? Because I thought we were past all that after yesterday.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “Look, we need to talk-”
Edie let out a bitter laugh. “Of course, we do. Wealwaysneed to talk.” She shook her head at me. “I’m so sick and tired of your hot-and-cold act, Lars. If you regret yesterday, then just come out and say it.”
I had her pressed up against the wall before she could finish her sentence.
“Let’s get something straight here,” I growled down at her. “From the moment that I met you and Talon, I have not regretted one single second spent with you guys. You, Talon, and your mom are every bit as much of family to me as my own.” Her eyes lowered, properly chastised. “I also don’t regret yesterday or the decision to be with you, Edie. I…” I straightened, the words bitter on my tongue. “I just think that we need to…to cool it for a bit before I talk with Talon.”
Her head snapped up. “What in the hell does that mean?”
“I think that we need to…appear as just friends until I talk with your brother,” I finally told her. “The last thing I want is for our relationship to get back to Talon because someone posted a picture of us together or something stupid like that.”
“Okay, so what’s stopped you from calling him last night or after our first kiss even?” she posed.
“I want to talk to him in person,” I explained. “It’s the least that he deserves after breaking his trust by sleeping with you.”
“By sleeping with me?” she echoed.
“You know what I mean,” I snapped. “Quit making this shit harder than it needs to be, Edie.”
That pissed her off.
“How in the hell amImaking this harder than it needs to be?” she bit out. “From day one, I’ve been telling you to leave me the hell alone, Lars. I’m not the one that became all possessive and territorial, acting like a complete jerk to people. Plus, if memory serves me correctly,Iwas the one that letyouoff the hook after our first kiss. If anyone is making shit more difficult than it needs to be, it’syou.”
She wasn’t necessarily wrong.
Taking a step back, I said, “Look, I just want Talon to hear it from me first. Is that too much to ask?”
Edie eyed me before asking, “So, what happens if he disapproves of us dating? Are you going to break things off?”
