Distrust overwhelms me whenever he’s around and contrary to my gut feeling, it’s unfounded.Apart from being a cheating scumbag, he hasn’t done anything to me.In fact, any chance he gets he’s helpful even if it’s a bit self-serving and overbearing.Even still, I can’t ignore the nagging feeling he’s dangerous.Maybe not in a physical way but dangerous all the same.
Not wanting to be rude, I relent.“Thank you.”
“No problem, anytime.”He leans against the desk, crossing his ankles, and stares at me.“So how’s the game going with Zach?”
“Game?”I tilt my head to the side.
“You two seem to be moving fast.What’s next?”He picks up my water bottle and unscrews the cap, flicking his tongue against the rim in a crude way.
“I’m not following.”I fidget uncomfortably, irritated with his inappropriate flirting, if I can even call it that, and with myself for letting him get to me.
“I was surprised when you went along with his charade but good on him.He obviously saw you for who you are.He’s smart to find someone outside of our circle to go along with this fake girlfriend thing.”He’s amused and it bolsters every word out of his mouth.
The world tilts and I grab onto the desk to steady myself.Taking a big sip of water, he strolls lazily toward me, but it feels threatening.Once at my side, he attempts a smile as his flinty eyes rake over me like hot coals.
“And to be fucking you, too.”His hands fly into the air, further shocking me, like his favorite team just won a game.“Score!”
My stomach bottoms out and ringing fills my ears, or maybe the ringing comes from somewhere else, but I can’t make sense of anything.It’s as if he’s slapped me across the face or worse, ripped the clothes off my back.
I’m bared to him.
And we’re alone.He’s too close, leering at me like he’s the hunter and it’s open season.I’m fair game and the thought is terrifying.My mind is swimming, hazy, and I sway.Donovan’s hand latches onto me and I flinch at his touch.
At the same time, my phone buzzes in his hand and at first I think it’s Bettina again, telling me she’s backing off on the damn orchids.But when Donovan lifts the phone to see the screen, which I’m unable to read, the evil grin that overtakes his face causes my insides to curdle.
“Give it to me,” I say through clenched teeth, and he pulls away, hitting a button on my screen.I inwardly curse myself for taking off my lock screen feature earlier today.
“Hey, what’s up?”Donovan’s voice booms and his smile is wide and naughty as he stares at my phone screen.
“Donovan?Why are you answering Paige’s phone?”Zach’s terse tone rumbles through the speaker and another kind of nausea rolls through me.
I’d texted him not even an hour ago to tell him I was still up and if he had time, I’d love to chat.Fuck.
I can’t talk to him right now, still processing he shared a huge secret, our secret, with his douchebag friend.I had no idea Zach had told anyone about our deal and now I wonder who else knows?Does Walker?Morgan?
Even still, Donovan answering my phone in the wee hours of the morning doesn’t look good.With too many thoughts running through my mind, I don’t realize what Donovan is doing until it’s too late.
He wraps his hand around my shoulders, pulling me into his side in full view of Zach, sitting at a desk halfway around the world.Zach’s strong, dark features turn to stone as his fiery gaze rakes in the both of us.
“Hey, we miss you but don’t worry, I’m taking care of your girl here.”He squeezes the nape of my neck and bile surges like a wave up my throat.
I’m no longer able to tolerate my proximity to Donovan.A man I distrust.A man privy to my arrangement with Zach.A man who has single-handedly tainted every moment I’ve had with Zach by implying I’m a whore.
23
Zach
She’s holding hands with that guy Tom and smiling up at him.My eyes burn from staring for so long at the image and my knuckles whiten from clutching the tablet too tightly.This is one of several pictures Paige sent while I was away.I asked for them, wanting to know what she was up to, and when I first saw it, I wasn’t wild about it but thought nothing of it.Now I’m not so sure.
I feel like a child, angry to find another kid playing with what is mine.
I don’t share.
I’m a dick to think about Paige like that.She isn’t some possession.She’s a woman and she gets to choose.The thought of her not choosing me boils my blood and with a tap on the home button of my device, the picture of Tom and Paige vanishes.
It isn’t enough to calm me or erase the image of her laughing, close with another man.That’s hard to dismiss.And I can’t ignore the absurd jealousy tearing me up and feeding this madness.If I was a better man, I’d end our charade and wish her happiness with Tom or anyone else.
And then there’s Donovan.
