Since meeting Drew, I haven’t thought about doing a line, or about starting a fight. For the first time in nearly eight years, I have spoken about my little sister with a smile and not with guilt, and my girl is the reason for that. She’s brought the old me out little by little, the me I lost after losing Angie.
I’m in love with her, that much is a given. Even though I’m scared that I can’t protect her like I couldn’t protect Angie, I want to claim her.
I sigh as I cross my arms over my chest. Several moms walk out of the dance studio, most of them looking my way despite knowing I’m with their child’s teacher, but I ignore them like I always do.
Maybe I could get Joel to convince her tonight. Well, if her sister is on her best behavior, fuck, maybe tonight isn’t the best night to convince her because my girl will withdraw into herself until I can kiss her back to me.
And here comes the deep disappointment...
Five weeks and Elizabeth has tried to corner me every chance she gets, especially after family get-togethers, which happen twice a week. Every time that fucker Drake is there, his eyes are always on my girl.
The whole time we’re at dinner, I’m always tense. I can’t exactly ask my girl to stop a routine she’s been used to for years just because her sister can’t keep her mouth shut. I can’t not go because Joel insists I be there, otherwise he’ll hunt me down.
“Hi, Mr. Cage!” Annabell calls, the sweet four-year-old who always latches onto me right after her mother whispers in her ear. I give the girl a salute before looking back at the glass door, knowing Drew will follow in a second.
“How are you doing, Cage?” Sage, Annabell's mom, asks with a husk, and I really do try not to, but I roll my eyes as I look her way.
She’s biting her bottom lip while twirling her bottle blonde hair in her fingers, trying to look seductive. She looks more like a fucking clow with the amount of makeup caked on her face.
“Good,” I grunt and look back at the door, hoping she’ll get the fucking hint, but fat chance for me.
“Annabell wanted to invite you for burgers tonight,” she says, and I swear it takes everything in me not to slice her fucking throat.
Women like her instantly remind me of Toya, and the fact that she’s using her own kid…
I shake my head and look at her and call her out, “Please, tell me you are not using your daughter, a kid my girl teaches, as a way to get a date with me?”
She looks to where Annabell is talking to another girl, then back at me and clears her throat, “I’m not using her, we just thought you’d like to come to dinner.”
“Oh, with my girl as well then?” I confirm already knowing the answer is a fuck no, and she flinches. I scoff, “Thought so,” I curl my lip at her, “Have some self-respect and stop trying to go after a man that is already taken by your daughter's teacher. Unless you want me to have words with Drew about how uncomfortable you make me feel, and then she’ll have no choice but to request Annabell’s father bring her in?”
Her brown eyes widen, a little bit of fear hinting in them but also rage. Before she can spew some crap that would most likely get her daughter kicked out of my girl’s classes, Drew voice washes over me as she asks, “Is everything okay, Sage?” and the woman tenses further while I just raise a brow as my girl moves around her and into my side where I’ve lifted my arm.
“She was just inviting me for dinner,” I say tensely, not willing to lie to my girl, and Sage completely freezes.
“Is that so?” Drew murmurs as she looks up at me and gently rubs her finger along my brow causing me to relax like always, and Sage gulps before she lies, “Uh, you as well, Ms. Taylor.”
Drew hums, not believing her one bit, but my girl being my girl just says, “Well, unfortunately, we’re having dinner with my folks, we do it twice a week, but thank you for the invite anyhow.” as she looks at the woman.
“You, uh, I mean, youbothhave dinner with your parents?” she stupidly asks, and I snort as Drew confirms, “Yes, we do, which we’re going to be late to if we don’t make a move, I’ll see Annabell and Cecil next week.”
Sage’s mouth drops open hearing her ex’s name, Drew’s insinuation perfectly clear. I try not to openly laugh as my girl waves to the kids, who all wave back as I tighten my hold over her shoulders. I guide her down the road towards Dante’s, it’s only when we’re across the street that I take notice of her attire.
Leggings and my shirt…
Fuck me, she looks edible and oh so fucking mine.
Did I give her one of my shirts yesterday because I hate her wearing her dad's? Fuck yes! Does it make me a possessive alpha hole? Also, yes, but do I care? Not one bit.
This girl is mine.
“I think you should only wear my shirts,” I murmur, and she looks up, and I grin, seeing the awe in her beautiful dark blue eyes.
I swear the more time I spend with this girl, the harder I fucking fall. The day she tattooed a butterfly next to Angie’s name as I openly spoke about her, is probably when I realized I was in love with her. I also got Mads, the owner of the tattoo shop to tattoo Drew's name over my heart two days later despitethat bitch behind the receptionist desk, whose name I haven’t been fucked to learn, complaining.
Every time my girl comes in she has a scowl. Drew being Drew, just ignores her.
“I want you on the back of my bike later,” I say, not taking my eyes off her, not able to keep it in.
