I shook my head.“I know.” I sighed, taking a deep breath. “Sorry I was so bitchy.”
“You weren’t.”
I forced asmile. “I was, but it’s sweet that you’re covering for me.”
I unzipped thedress I was wearing and let it fall to the floor.
“We’re not doin’that, baby.”
“Not doingwhat?”
“We are nothaving sex.”
“What? Why not?”
“Because youjust went from blank to sad to pissed to blank again and sex is your way tocope when your emotions are out of whack.”
I gasped. “Howthe fuck would you know that?”
“Baby, I’ve beenpaying attention to the things you’ve been telling me.”
“I never saidanything about sex helping me cope.”
“No, but you’vetold me about your past. About the abuse you suffered while doing that kidshow. Marrying shithead number one right after it ended. And it seems to me,with your past, you may have some impulse control issues.”
“So this is thetime you choose to tell me everything that’s wrong with me?” I rasped.
“Nope, you don’tget to do that. Not with me.”
“What?”
“You don’t getto deflect. Let me be very clear here. I love you. Everything that I say to youis because I love you and I’m concerned about your wellbeing. I want you tosucceed. We all do. But you can’t ice me out and you can’t make me your enemyjust because you’re angry about Puddin’s death.”
“I have to iceyou out. I have to ice everyone out. If I don’t, the pain will be too much.”
“I get it. ButI’m here to put you back together when you break.”
“I don’t needyou to do that. You can go back to your room now.” I dropped my head, focusingon my hands in my lap. “I’m good.”
“I am notleaving you like this, honey,” he countered.
“Just go, Nash.”
He smirked. Ionly called him ‘Nash’ when I was irritated with him. “No.”
“In case you’veforgotten, I’m your boss, and I’d like you to leave,” I sassed.
“You’re my bosson that stage.” He raised an eyebrow. “In here, we’re on the same level. Butnice try.”
“Court—”
“Stop,” heordered, and I bit my lip with a scowl. He slid his arms back, so he wascradling my hips, tugging me forward.
I reluctantlysettled my hands on his shoulders.
“Talk to me,” heprodded.
“I can’t.”
