It’s obvious what I want—wanted—from Miles. Hell, Garrett had mocked me earlier tonight about my unrequited crush. His barb had hit the mark then, and its after-effect sloshes shame inside me. I followed Miles around like a puppy starved for any affection, only for him to walk away the moment someone better came along.
I wish I was more like Anker. Even if my brother has this steadfast belief in the Larsen lore, he’s not waiting. He’s running towards what he wants. He’s not just standing by and letting life happen around him.
“Miles didn’t do anything you didn’t try to warn me about,” I admit.
What a fool I’ve been about Miles. It’s just Chase Rollins all over again. In nine years, you’d think I would have learned not to make the same mistakes.
“What happened?” he says, taking the empty spot on the bench beside me.
The warmth of his body folds around me like a blanket. Right now, Garrett is the last person I want to talk about this with, but there’s something in the tender inflection in his voice that uncurls my words.
“He ditched me for another woman.”
“Jensen, I’m?—”
“You warned me about him.” I shake my head. “I was just too stupid to listen.”
“You’re not stupid.”
“Sure.” I scoff. “I followed him around like a devoted lovesick teenager, blind to the fact that he didn’t want me. Not really. You think I’d learned something after Chase, butno,I go and fall for another charmer with their pretty words. God, I am pathetic.”
“You’re not pathetic.”
“You said it yourself.”
“I never said you’re pathetic,” he says, his voice rough.
I twist to face him. “You said it tonight. Outside the bathroom, or is your memory going in your advanced age?”
“I am only seven years older than you.” He shakes his head. “Also, I never saidyou’repathetic. He’s pathetic. Not you. Never you.” He shifts to face me.
His green eyes bore into mine. Their intensity radiates through me, crackling awake every nerve ending. I may not be able to see Garrett’s eyes, but I always feel them. I can sense when he looks at me. It’s not a magic blind girl trick; it’s just this sensation pulsing along my skin each time he meets my eyes, and he always does. Even when he tells me things I don’t wantto hear. He also never lies to me, even if it means my feelings get hurt.
“Guys like that know what they’re doing. They know how to manipulate and charm people into getting what they want out of them.”
I huff a derisive laugh. “Well, clearly Miles doesn’t want anything from me.”
“Oh, he wants something.”
“What does he want?” A crease dips my brow.
“Your attention to boost his ego or to keep you on the hook until he’s ready to settle,” he says.
“Settle?” I flinch. “Fuck you.” I stand up and unfold my cane.
“Excuse me?” He rises beside me.
“I’m not the woman someone settles for.” I turn to walk away, but spin back to face him. “I’m not anyone’s backup plan. I’m their first choice. Even if they don’t know it.” I swallow the emotional tangle in my throat.
You’re not girlfriend material.Chase’s parting shot, minutes after he ended our situationship, echoes inside me. Only to me, I thought we’d been in an actual relationship, or at least becoming one.
“I know that.” He steps close. The streetlamp offers enough illumination for me to make out the downward curve of his mouth.
“But you said?—”
“Fuuuck.” He scrubs his palms down his face. “I never say the right thing with you.”
“You said settle.”
