Jake’s voice startled me, and shame flooded me that he’d heard my ugly truths.
“You’ve got it all wrong. Dani moved into my spare room. She has her own space again, convenient access to her parents, a spacious kitchen she can update to her heart’s content, and everything else she needs.”
Chapter 15
JAKE
“Dani moved into my spare room.”
My words hung in the air.
I’m a fucking moron. That’s the only thing that makes sense. What in the hell made me think it was a good idea to tell that asshole Dani moved in with me?
Of course, I knew why. Dani folded in on herself as his words landed, their cruelty direct and cutting, finding their targets with the ease of constant practice. As he diminished her more with every word, a red haze coated my vision.
Long ago, I promised myself I’d never lash out in anger. I’d never become a monsterlike my dad.
That decision had been challenged repeatedly, against my father when I gained my height and muscles, against fellow soldiers who wanted to test themselves against the big, muscular guy who didn’t talk much, against the friend I found in my bed with my fiancée.
Rage flooded my system as Beau verbally cut Dani down. He stripped away all the hard-won progress she’d made in the weeks away from him. I wanted to beat him until his face matched the twisted, ugly soul he hid behind a slick smile and barbed compliments.
But I never wanted Dani to see me lose control, the control she’d helped me find as a kid. When he pelted her with lies built on weaknesses he exploited, I had two options: lose my control and her friendship, or figure out how to survive living with my lifelong obsession. There was no choice.
Dani’s head swung in my direction, her eyes wide with shock and confusion. She’d lost that haunted, defeated look, though, so I’d take it.
“Sorry. You asked me not to say anything since you guys just broke up,” I added to cover her surprise, “but everyone knows there’s nothing romantic between us.”
“Convenient,” Beau sneered.
If only he knew. There was nothing convenient about it.
The idea had rolled around in my head ever since we went to that shitty apartment. I dismissed it because it’d be hard to live with her without giving myself away, but this was impossible. Nothing would convince me to stand there while he tore her down as easily as he breathed.
My casual shrug infuriated him.
“She needs a place to live. I need help paying my mortgage. Win-win.”
“Why was she heading to her parent’s house when she got out of the car then?”
“Habit,” I said easily.
I’d long ago perfected an outward calm a weasel like Beau couldn’t shake. It was unlikely he’d attack me physically. Bullies never went after anyone who might fight back.
“You live with him now?” he demanded.
Dani straightened her spine. The challenge of hiding my feelings was already worth it when her confidence returned.
“Yes,” she said simply.
“But you can’t do that,” he whined.
“Do you have a lease?” I asked her as if I didn’t already know the answer.
“No,” Dani said. “Beau never put me on the lease, but I already paid my share of this month’s rent.”
“You can’t move out without giving me notice,” he argued.
“If she doesn’t get the benefit of rental history, you don’t get a 60-day written notice. Paying this month’s rent seems fair to me. Now if you’ll excuse us, it’s late, and I have an early morning.”
