“A little, huh?” I sigh. “But yeah, I get it. Let’s go.”
I have Rory wait for me further down the road, while I eventually make it to my car. I pick him up there so that no one will spot us together. Instead of driving us to a bar, I decide to head back to the pack and invite Rory to my place. It’s funny; it reminds me a little of that day I took the jump and invited Forest. I sensed that he was torn and borderline depressed, and I’d always wanted to get closer to him and befriend him.
Maybe it will be a good way to get to know Rory, as well.
“I only have beer,” I tell him.
“That’s fine. I prefer beer anyway.”
I can’t help but chuckle.
“What’s so funny?” Rory asks, instantly sounding defensive again.
“I had a similar conversation a while ago when I invited Forest over for the first time,” I say. “Also, you have an attitude.”
I almost expect him to get even more annoyed, but he just scrunches his nose and scratches his beard. “You have a point.”
This takes the wind out of my sails a little. That guy punched me twice today and definitely has a bad attitude towards me, but there is something disarming about his honesty. And he obviously holds himself accountable.
He takes a seat in my living room while I head first to my bathroom to clean up and change into more comfortable clothes, then fetch us something to drink and a few snacks. I have leftover hummus, with homemade crispbread to offer, some granola bars and potato chips.
Rory looks surprised. “This all looks amazing… and homemade? Does the pack kitchen whip together such fancy stuff for their ranked members?” The moment he says it, helooks flustered. “And I swear that was not supposed to be a dig at you being a ranked member.”
“No worries, I am not that sensitive,” I say, sitting down as well and opening a bottle of beer. “I made them myself.”
“You are kidding?”
“No, I like cooking.”
“And you really want to offer these to me?” he asks.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because I have been an asshole to you.”
I grin. “Yeah, but I thought I could maybe buy you with food.”
Rory looks amused for the first time since I met him. His signature expressions are broody or grumpy, or worried. He only looks relaxed around Rose. Not that I can blame him. “Sorry for attacking you earlier,” he says.
I sigh. “I get why you did it.”
“But I could have ruined everything you and the others worked on.”
“Yes. Good thing you caught me alone; otherwise, the situation might have been too hard to save. I have a role to play in front of Jordan.”
“Sorry,” he says.
“Okay, you wanna hear the whole story now?”
He nods. While I tell him everything we have planned, he eats through the snacks I brought him. He doesn’t bombard me with questions, but listens patiently. When I have finished, he is quiet.
“Wow,” he mutters. “That’s insane.” Then he frowns. “Fuck, that’s insane! Jordan… that fucking psycho…” He stands up, pacing around. “And Clemmens played along. No matter why he did it or whether he hesitated or not, he played along. That psycho is selling girls to sleazy assholes like himself, and my mate was helping him!” Another pause. “Ex-mate,” he corrects himself. “I am so disgusted. Clemmens was not just a simplebystander. He knew what was happening. He allowed it to happen.”
“Yes,” I say quietly. “I am sorry, Rory.”
Rory rubs his face.
“May I ask something?”
