“Jesus, Phoenix. When the hell did you take it?”
“Baby…” I reach for her, and the glare she throws me could peel the flesh from my bones. She looks one second away from digging her nails into my skin and ripping the entire tattoo off my back. “Fine.”I lift both palms in the universal sign of bullshit surrender, even though we both know I don’t surrender shit.“It was when I drove you to the hotel.”
Confusion flickers through her anger, just long enough to make her pause. “What?”
“I picked you up from the airport. I drove you to the hotel.And when I got your bags out of the trunk, I lifted the book then. I took it, I left, and I got the wings inked on me immediately.”
“That was you… I was in the car with you that whole time?”
“Yeah, baby.”
“Oh, fuck you, Phoenix.”
She spins, snatching her phone and purse off the desk, and storms toward the elevator, trying to outrun me. I pull my hoodie over my head, shoving myself fully back into my pants, and I’m after her before the fabric even settles on my shoulders.
She slams her finger against the elevator button like she thinks the doors will save her.
They won’t.
“Get away from me, Phoenix.”
She doesn’t bother turning.
She already knows I’m right behind her.
“I’m not in the mood for more of your shit right now.”
The elevator doors slide open, and she steps inside, but I’m on her ass, following her in before they can close.
“You know it’s just one thing after another with you. Fuck, how was I even considering trying to trust you?”
“It was a need-to-know, baby,” I bite out, stepping in close and crowding her against the mirrored wall. “And compared to everything else you’ve learned about me, I’d say this one ranks pretty fucking minimal.”
Her hands shove at my chest, but I don’t move. “Do you know how upset I was? I thought I’d lost it. I got drunk out of my mind over that sketchbook.”
The doors close, locking us in, and I’ve never been happier that she can’t run.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve given it back sooner, I know, but I’mtrying to get back any piece of you I can. So yeah, I borrowed it—fucking sue me.”
“God, you’re so selfish.”
“Right,” I say, dry as hell, tilting my head. “Is that what I am?”
“You think everything you’ve done is for me, but it’s always been about you. Because you’re Phoenix fucking Cassidy, who does whatever the hell he wants, whenever he wants, as long as it props up the version of you you’re trying to sell that day.”
My hand slams down on the emergency stop button hard enough to dent metal. Shannen grabs the rail to steady herself and looks at me like she suddenly remembers exactly who she’s locked in here with.
“What are you doing?”
“Giving you time.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you.” I stalk closer, eating up the space between us. “I stole your book. I sat in that car with you. I was breathing you in every fucking second of that drive. I listened to every word that came out of your mouth, knowing exactly what you were there to do to me. And yeah, I lied. I deceived you that night, and I get why you’re pissed, but stop acting like you’re rejecting me because of that. These aren’t deal-breakers. You’re just desperate to find a reason to run. You’re blowing shit up just so you can pretend you don’t want me.”
I grab the hem of my hoodie and yank it off again, letting it fall to the floor before I turn, facing the mirror instead of her, giving her a full view of me while I get her reflection.
She wants to shove me away.
