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His face changes then, colder, harder, scarier than before. “You didn’t see what you think you did.”
“I didn’t see your penis thrusting into my sister’s vagina? Really? I just imagined it?”
“I knew you would be back here,” he says instead of answering me. “I just fucking knew that you wouldn’t be in the house like a sane person. You’d be out here with that damn camera and taking pictures instead of doing what you should be doing.”
“And what am I supposed to be doing?”
“Taking care of me and Ashley,” he snaps. “Instead, you just…flit off, living your own life, too fucking obstinate and headstrong for your own good.”
Was this man my boyfriend—ex—or my parent, or my child?
Because those words were a mishmash of them all…and yet none of them.
“You’re both adults,” I say. “And, not that it matters anymore, but I think I showed you plenty of care the last time you were sick. I think I showed it when I did your laundry and cleaned the apartment and made your doctor’s and dentist appointments. I think I showed it when I learned how to make your favorite meals even though I can’t stand meatloaforstew.” I tug against him again but can’t slip free of his hold. “And not that it’s any of your business, but I also think I showed Ashley plenty of care growing up and throughout the years since, and she repaid that energy by fucking my boyfriend.”
He sniffs.
“So,” I ask. “Why are you really here?”
And really,howis he here? Had the roads been plowed?
“I was worried and…”
My brows shoot up. “And what?”
“And when I saw your car on the side of the road, I hiked up here.”
To Lake’s house. Specifically to his back yard?
I frown.
Speaking of that, whereisLake?
Still sleeping?
Or did he sic this asshole on me?
Probably the second one.
Although, the man who carried me to nap in his bed, who tucked blankets around me, wouldn’t—
George shakes me again, hard enough that my teeth rattle together, that my head wobbles on my neck, that pain shoots down my spine.
“Stop,” I say, squirming against him, trying to get out of his hold.
But all that succeeds in doing is making him tighten his grip on my arms. “You stop,” he snaps, shaking me again, this time so hard that my eyes start watering. “You’re going to walk your ass down the hill and get in my fucking car and you’re going to apologize to your sister and make things right with both of us.”
“Fuck that,” I say. “I’m not going to—”
He talks over me. “And then we’re going home, and things will go back to nor—”
All of a sudden, I’m thrown forward, nearly colliding with a tree, but I don’t hit it because there’s an arm wrapping around my middle, drawing me back against a strong chest.
But that arm isn’t rough.
It holds me gently for a beat before I’m behind Lake’s broad body.
“Woof!” Steve barks, a couple steps ahead of us, and I lean around to watch, wide-eyed, as my tiny pup launches himself at George, getting some serious air as he leaps up and latches onto my ex’s hand.
