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Migrating to his other side, I trim around his ears using the comb and shears.
“No. Stop for a second.” He huffs out a breath and tugs me close. “Ilikeyou.”
Nope, nope, nope. I say the first thing I can think of. “Okay.”What an articulate response, Jordan. Those communication credits are finally paying off.
He’s staring straight into my soul, making me flustered. “Will we be arriving at your point in the near future, or should I pack a lunch?”
His grin grows; he’s got a terrific smile. “This isn’t working for me anymore,” he says.
The floor feels like it’s dropped out. I knew we had to stop our arrangement as soon as I heard that girl through the phone, but hearing him end it first hurts more than I expected. I don’t let an ounce of emotion show. Instead, I nod. “I get it. Let’s go back to being platon?—”
“No.” He cocks his head at me, and his brows knit together. “I need more than friends with benefits.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why?” Hurt flickers in his eyes, and I wince.
“I don’t want to risk our?—”
“I swear to God, if you say friendship, I’m gonna lose it.”
“It’s true!”
He scoffs at me. “You’re being a coward.”
I gape at him. “I’m trying to set a boundary! I was fine being your plaything—but I’m done now. Because I like you and I’m not going to compete with other women for your attention. I don’t think you realize the things you would have to give up. Have you ever even been in a relationship?”
“I mean . . .”
“See?”
He removes the comb and scissors from my hands and sets them on the counter, wraps his fingers around each of my wrists while his thumbs brush my pulse. “What can I do to change your mind?”
I laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
“It sounds like some shitty sales pitch.What do I have to do to get you on this penis today?” I exaggerate my voice.
“Why do you keep reducing our relationshipto what we do in the bedroom?” he sneers.
I flinch at the severity of his voice.
“This is the second time you’ve chalked up what we are”—he gestures an imaginary circle between us—“to sex. And while we’re on the topic, don’t ever cheapen what you mean to me by calling yourself aplaything.” He’s angry, and I can’t help but become overly aware of how much bigger and stronger he is.
I bite my lip and nod.
His shoulders relax and he continues, “The sex is great—fuck, it’samazing—but we enjoy being around each other. You understand my thoughts better than anyone. You have this weird knack for reading me. And I’ve been trying to get to know you more, but every time the conversation shifts to something heavy, you deflect or shut down. I’m not going to pretend to know what you were like with Bryan, but I would bet a signing bonus that you were just as closed off to him as you are with me. So, before you start saying I don’t know how to be in a healthy relationship—with all due respect, Sunshine—you first.
“Our past relationships don’t matter, I’m asking for the future... We’ll work at it. Jordan, you’re my favorite person to be with, and I like that you hold me accountable. You couldn’t care less about my money or fame or want anything from me other than my company. And that’s all I want from you. All my life I’ve been pushing my limits to get a rush, tofeelsomething—sex, fights, drinking, speeding, buying material shit I don’t need. Since you’ve been around, I’ve never felt more content. You are my rush.”
“Until I’m not there, then you get your rush from someone else.”
“I would never do that to you.”
I curl my lip in disgust. “You already did! The woman youwere with last night answered your phone, Camden. I called you andanother woman answered. She said youweren’t in your pants. It was humiliating. I even called you back and you declined it. Do you have any idea how that feels? I’m not going to be some side piece. Which brings me to another point, I think it’s time I move out.”
His eyes widen. “I lost my phone last night. I wasn’t with any girl, I swear.”
