Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 48808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
"Fuck," he growls, jaw clenching, and I know he remembers.
"You told me that prom was stupid, and no one cared about it. That I'd be better off if I skipped it. And when I said no, you didn't talk to me for two weeks." I tilt my head back, meeting his gaze.
"What the fuck?" He gapes at me. "That isn't what happened, Chloe."
"Yes, it is!" I growl, stomping away from him. "You didn't get your way, and you couldn't stand it, so you just decided not to bother with me anymore."
He's silent for a long moment, processing. And then he mutters a curse. "That isn't what happened."
"Yeah, it is," I say sadly.
"It isn't. You were the one who stopped talking to me. I tried over and over again, but you were pissed and wouldn't give an inch. Everything I said to you was the wrong thing. It still is."
"Sounds like a you problem," I sniff, bending to clip the leash to Thanos's collar. He's just glancing between us like he's watching a ping-pong match and isn't sure which side he should be cheering for. But he's a smart dog. He chooses me, obviously.
"Fuck," Trystan growls. "You're so goddam infuriating. You know that?"
"Yeah, well, you suck."
His lips quirk into a panty-melting grin. "Is that the best you can do, princess? I'm disappointed. Your insults usually sting a little more than that."
"I don't insult you."
"Bullshit."
"Whatever." I roll my eyes at him, turned on, annoyed, and just frustrated in general. "Go back to Santa Maria."
"Hell, no. You go back to San Francisco."
"No."
"Why'd you quit your job?"
"Oh, now you want to know? I thought it was a mess I was running from?"
He tips his head back, staring up at the ceiling. I see the muscle in his jaw tick. He doesn't say a word, but his silence is loud. He's counting. Definitely to five. Probably to ten.
Something about that makes me smile.
"What happened, Chloe?" he finally growls, tipping his head down. When he meets my gaze, his expression is fierce, all stubborn determination and command.
And, like usual, I find myself desperate to do the exact opposite of what he's demanding. Not because I don't want him to know what happened, but simply because that look makes me weak. And one thing I can't afford to be around this man is weak.
"I stole a million dollars and skipped town."
He mutters a curse, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm not sure what concerns me more," he mutters. "The fact that you're lying to me, or the fact that it wouldn't surprise me a single goddamn bit to find out that you aren't."
"Worried you won't have anyone to boss around if I go to prison?"
He meets my gaze again, his expression severe. "We both know hell will freeze over before I let you go to prison."
My smile slips, my heart slamming against my ribcage. He means it. I know him well enough to know that much. And I don't even know what to say about that. This whole day has been too damn confusing.
"I'm going to walk Thanos," I mutter instead of addressing the elephant-sized issue. Better to ignore it than to try to figure out why he cares. That way lies madness…and I've had more than enough of that today.
"Don't take him to the park."
I narrow my eyes at him, but before I can even say anything, he holds up a hand. "That's not me telling you what to do. That's me telling you that the Chihuahua next door is a bully, and a cat at the park scared the shit out of him this morning."
I glance down at Thanos, my expression softening. "Was Tom mean to you again, buddy?"
"Tom?" Trystan asks.
"The Chihuahua next door."
"Jesus Christ," he mutters. "The old lady named the dog Tom?"
"He chases mice," I say, shrugging.
"He's a terrorist," Trystan growls, glancing down at Thanos. "Every time we walk by, he loses his shit."
"Huh. He likes me and Thanos just fine." I bat my lashes at him, sashaying toward the door. "Must be you. Can't really say I blame him for wanting to murder you. You seem to have that effect on me, too."
"Fucking hell," Trystan mutters behind me. I don't think I'm supposed to hear him, but I laugh anyway.
Chapter Three
Trystan
Living under the same roof with Chloe is hell on my peace of mind. It hasn't even been eight hours, and she's already driving me to the brink of madness. But I'm too goddamn stubborn to leave, especially if it means leaving her here alone.
I spend half the fucking day replaying our conversation in my mind. Does she really think I stopped talking to her because I was pissed she decided to go to prom?
Contrary to her memory of events, that's not what happened.
The night she called me to show me her dress, she looked like a goddess. And then she casually fucking mentioned that some asshole asked her to go with him. All I could think about was that prick putting his hands on her.