“Well, I’m not hungry.” She walks alongside me.
I grunt like the caveman I’m channeling right now. “You need to eat for?—”
“Oh, save it.” She walks faster to get in front of me.
I let her go, watching her the entire time as she walks to the building and turns the corner. I slow my steps because I need to cool down and not take it out on her, so some space between us will be good—if only for the walk back to the condo.
As I round the corner, there’s a group of people outside Peeper’s, which I should’ve expected. We won, and they’ve all congregated here, knowing that we hang out here. I’m willing to ignore them, but my gaze snags on Callie talking to two guys. All the anger I’ve been feeling since I stepped on the mound roars back through my veins.
I walk by and take her hand to pull her away from these douchebags wearing Colorado shirts.
“Hey, man,” one guy says.
Callie twists her hand out of mine, and we stare each other down.
“Seriously, what’s your deal?” The guy continues to come at me, stepping between Callie and me. “Are you okay? Do you need away from this guy?”
I huff out a laugh, and his friend turns to me.
“Shit.” He nods to me. “It’s Foster Davis.”
The guy looks over his shoulder and then up since I tower over the little shit.
I cross my arms. “Hey.”
“Don’t let him intimidate you,” Callie says, then looks me in the eye. “They were just asking for directions.”
“I don’t care.”
“Guess what? I’m not your property.”
“I’ll be your property,” a woman walking by says.
I shake my head. “Fine. Stay out here. I’m going home.”
I flip around and walk over to the gate, staring at the cardboard sign before I type in the security code. The scribble on one of the notes looks really familiar. I tear it off, read it, and crumple it, tossing it on the ground.
Awesome. Things have gone from shitty to worse. Love that for me.
Then I press the code and open the gate with one look at Callie. Her arms are crossed, and her eyebrows raised. I exhale, and our eyes remain on one another as if we’re waiting for the other to apologize first.
Who am I kidding? There’s no chance I’m leaving her out here alone.
“Fine. I’m sorry. Will you come with me?” God, I do not sound like the Foster Davis everyone thinks I am.
“Say it again?” she asks, cupping her ear as she walks toward me. “I don’t think I heard you.”
“Fucking hell, I said I was sorry.”
“Better.” She smiles.
I shut the gate after her, then I cage her against the wall, placing my hands over her head. “I’m sorry for acting like a Neanderthal, but I really don’t want to talk about it.”
She frowns. “I wish you would.”
“I’d rather you be my distraction.” I bend and kiss her neck.
“Hmm… I don’t know.” Her tone suggests she might be on board.
