He leans back in the chair, those eyes perhaps seeing more than they should. “What about you, Kerri? What makes you happy?”
Loaded question.
One I can’t fully answer. Not when I’ve always lived for everyone else’s happiness.
“That doesn’t matter.”
Out of nowhere, Havoc slams his fist on the table, and his burst of temper has me jumping at least a foot. “Fuck that,” he snarls. “When you and Faith were at Saunders Hall University, what’d you study?”
His anger makes no sense, but okay, I’ll play along.
“Medieval and Renaissance history. Why?”
“Why?” If he squeezes that bottle any harder, it’s going to shatter in his hand. “Because why the hell did you spend all that fucking money on an education only to waste it?”
I cock my head and furrow my brows. “Why do you care?”
“I don’t fucking know.” He pushes away from the table, the chair skidding across the hardwood floor. “I’ll clean up. Go do…something else.”
I stand and glance around the tiny cabin. “Sure, Havoc, I’ll do that.” Except there is, literally, nothing for me to do. I don’t feel safe going outside. We’ve already cleaned every inch of the interior. “Should I give myself a mani-pedi? Maybe wash my hair? How about I watch a rom-com while I eat a pint of ice cream?”
If looks could kill, I’d be dead as a doornail. And the poor salad bowl Havoc’s holding…? He’s crushing the thing. “I’m trying to be nice.”
Wait…what? I freeze in my tracks.
This is Havoc trying to be nice?
He can’t be serious.
Please tell me he’s not serious.
I go to clear my throat, but a laugh comes out instead. I must look like a deer caught in the headlights as I gape at Havoc, only to find he’s frowning at me.
Oh. My. God.
Heisserious!
I slap my hand across my mouth to stifle any other unwanted noises, but my fingers obstruct part of my nose. On my next inhale, I snort. Which makes me give up trying to control myself. I haven’t laughed this hard in ages. And now he’s glaring at me. Giving me all sorts of dirty looks, which makes me laugh harder. I have a stitch in my left side now, but I finally regain my composure and drag in a few calming breaths before I can speak. “So, wait. You’re mad at me because I’m not using my education? This is your version of nice?”
Havoc slams the bowl on the counter. “I’m madforyou, notatyou.”
He’s a gem, truly.
“Do me a favor. Don’t be nice, because you suck at it.” I brush past him and stalk into the kitchen. “For someone who’s a member of a gang, you’re terrible at getting along with people.”
Is that a growl I hear behind me as I collect the vegetable scraps and toss them into the trash? Yes, I believe it is.
“You know nothing about me.”
I drop the dirties in the sink. “You got that right. And you know nothing about me, either. So how about we stop with assumptions and get to know each other since we’re stuck together?” I spin to face him and force myself not to jump back when I realize he’s practically breathing down my neck. “Which, I fully accept is my fault. I don’t want you to think I’m not grateful for your help.”
“It’s not your fault.”
Here I go, wringing my hands. Good Lord, he smells good. Like fresh air and the forest, since he leaves the cabin multiple times a day to patrol the area. It’s distracting. Everything about Havoc is an assault on my senses. “Yes, it is. I should have left well enough alone.”
He grabs my shoulders. I brace for the shake I expect is coming. Instead, he brings his face close to mine. Until we’re practically brushing noses, and he growls, “Youneverblame yourself for what other people do.”
“Okay,” I whisper, more for him than myself because logically, he’s right.
