“Yes, it is. You couldn’t stand the thought of me being with someone else tonight. Just admit it. That’s why you burst in and broke it up. Because you were jealous. Because that kiss affected you as much as it affected me.”
I grind my teeth, determined not to take the bait. That’s what she wants. She wants me to give in. To throw her up against the wall and kiss her again.
And to not stop at kissing this time.
“Fine. Whatever.” I let out a frustrated breath. “There’s obviously nothing left to talk about tonight. And I need a fucking cigarette.”
Chapter 24
BLAKE
IT TAKES NEARLY FIFTEEN MINUTES to calm myself down. I spend that time pacing my bedroom, reminding myself that strangling him to death wouldn’t be in my best interests. I wouldn’t enjoy prison at all. And although tonight’s humiliation still boils in my blood, there’s also a surge of satisfaction.
Because Isawit.
The crack in his armor.
He was jealous tonight, and men only get jealous when they genuinely feel something for you. I sensed it when he kissed me, but tonight only cemented it. He can make as many excuses as he likes, but it’s clear to me now. Wyatt cares about me a lot more than he lets on.
This isn’t who you are. It’s whoIam.
His words keep buzzing in my head. I don’t get it. Why is he so devoted to this man-whore story he’s written about himself? What does he think will happen if he admits he might actually care about someone?
As the last of my anger melts away, I pull a sweater over my headand leave the bedroom.
I find him on a lounge chair, fingers gripping a cigarette, eyes on the moon. It’s surprisingly quiet outside. Usually, you’d hear the buzz of mosquitoes, but right now everything is still and silent other than the occasional rustling of trees.
“Is it just me, or did all the mosquitoes disappear?” I mutter.
Wyatt exhales a wisp of smoke. “Maybe Darlie sucked them all into the lake with her.”
A smile tugs at my lips, which only pisses me off. He’s not allowed to make me smile, not after what he pulled up there.
Rather than sit down, I loom over him, arms crossed.
“So,” I say.
He takes one last drag, then leans over to extinguish the butt. When he meets my eyes, I expect to see the same anger from before. The same indignation.
But all I see is remorse.
“I fucked up,” he says.
I nod tightly. “Correct.”
“I turned into a possessive, crazy caveman.”
“Also correct.”
“I made judgments, and I infantilized you.”
“Very good.”
Wyatt chokes out a laugh. “Oh, fuck off with that strict schoolmarm tone.”
My stern face collapses. I can’t keep it up anymore. Sighing, I sit at the edge of his chair. When he moves over to make more room for me, I can’t help but remember how we stayed up talking until the sun came up. I wonder if he’s thinking about it too.
“We watched the sunrise together, Blake.”
