Lil Bit is all mine, and if I made that unclear in any way, I need to rectify that.
Like now.
By the time Angie parks, I’m already down the steps.
Bit hops out, holding a paper bag full of what looks like thrifted fabric and old lace.
Her smile falters the second she sees my face.
Chapter 26-Sawyer
“Hey,” she starts, voice soft, uncertain.“What happened?”
“You left,” I bite out before I can stop myself.
Her brows pull together.“We were just?—”
“Didn’t text.Didn’t leave a note.You just left.”
She blinks, thrown by the heat in my tone.“Sawyer, that’s not?—”
“Where the hell were you?”The words come out sharper than intended, a growl scraping up my throat.
Her eyes widen.
“Thrifting.With Angie.I told her I wanted to pick up some fabric for?—”
“You tell me before you leave this ranch.”
Her chin lifts, that spark I’ve come to crave catching behind her eyes.
“You don’t own me, Sawyer.And I didn’t think I needed permission to go to the damn store.”
The words hit like a punch to the sternum because she’s right—and I hate that she’s right.
I drag a hand down my face, trying to reel it in, but my pulse is still hammering like I just walked off a battlefield.
“You know it’s not about permission, Bit.”
“Then what’s it about?”she demands, gesturing between us.“Because this—” her hand sweeps the space crackling between our bodies “—is a little crazy, no?”
“First, it’s not about owning you,” I bite back.“It’s about safety.That bastard from the Hellbound crew could still be out there.And second, crazy is exactly what I felt thinking about what could have happened to you!”
I don’t mean to raise my voice, but it rips out anyway.
I see Angie at the door, her eyes flicking between us before she quietly ducks back inside, no doubt pretending to fuss with dinner.
It’s what I pay her for.
Not to overhear me losing my shit over a woman who makes me forget I’m supposed to be level-headed.
A Lil Bit of trouble indeed.
She takes a step closer, her voice steady but her hands trembling just enough that I notice.
“Well, what am I supposed to do, Sawyer?Hide in your house forever?”
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.
