Page 27 of Feel Me

“Luckily, I don’t agree. I also don’t give a fuck what you think.”

“You might not, but Livy will. If I tell her to stay away from you, then she will.”

It upsets me that he’s probably telling the truth. Olivia is skittish, and she doesn’t know me. Hell, I don’t know myself. Still, I have a feeling that Olivia wouldn’t like this asshole telling her what to do—or who to see.

“You could try it,” I answer with a shrug. Somehow, I keep the genuine fear I feel from showing. At least I hope I do. I don’t know how Olivia got so deeply under my skin, but she did. I’m pretty sure I knew she would from the beginning, and that’s why I tried to believe the worst of her with Ray. Now, that might come back to bite me in the ass. “I wonder how Livy would feel about you trying that, though.”

His face hardens. “Her name is Olivia.”

I smirk and say nothing. We continue to stare at each other—neither of us giving an inch. My gaze doesn’t move off of him, even as the girls make it back to the table.

“What’s going on here?” Olivia asks.

“Ask your buddy,” I tell her, still staring at Blade.

“I’m asking you,” she snaps.

I finally make myself stop looking at the prick and gaze at her soft, worried face. “Blade was telling me I wasn’t good enough for you and to stay away.”

“I never said you weren’t good enough,” Blade growls.

“You’re right, but I’m pretty sure it was implied,” I shrug. Livy slides in beside me and grabs my hand. She links her fingers through mine and makes sure the two people across from us see it.

“Back off, Blade. Lake and I are friends. He’s a good man.”

“You can’t possibly know that, Livy. Cross told me this guy doesn’t even know who he truly is himself.” I freeze and Blade—the bastard—gives me a cocky grin.

“So?” Olivia laughs.

I can see Blade is surprised. Shit. It shocks me. I didn’t think she’d like Blade sticking his nose into her business, but I didn’t dare think she’d clearly take my side. The way she’s still holding my hand says she’s doing exactly that.

“Livy, you’re still healing. You’re fragile right now. People will try to take advantage of you,” he says.

I roll my eyes, letting out a huff of breath. “If you think Livy is fragile, you obviously haven’t been paying attention.”

I see Winnie smile before Olivia shifts sideways to look at me. “You think I’m strong?”

“Hell, yeah. I know we’re just learning one another, Livy, but you’re a survivor and despite everything you’re dealing with, you’ve taken time to worry about me. That’s rare.”

“How do you know it’s rare? You don’t even know your damn name,” Blake grumbles.

Winnie elbows Blade hard in the ribs. “Shut up, Blade. Livy is a grown woman. She doesn’t need you turning into a big brother from hell.”

“He’s controlling. I warned you about that Winnie,” Livy joins in and now I’m the one smiling. Seems Blade’s plan to get under my skin has backfired, and now he’s the one the girls are tearing apart. Fun for me. Not so much for him.

“You did,” Winnie says, mournfully, though I can tell it’s mostly fake.

“I am not controlling,” Blade snaps.

“Oh, please. When we were dating, you wanted to know my schedule all the time.”

“I was worried about you!” Blade sputters.

“He has to know my schedule too,” Winnie chimes in.

“Woman, I’m your man. It’s my job to make sure you’re safe,” Blade exclaims.

“Hold up,” I interrupt, needing something cleared up for me. “You dated Blade?” I ask Olivia.