Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 117740 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117740 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
ME: There are a lot of things to consider. I’m not the kind of person who says something unless I know it for sure.
ISADORA: Then can you at least tell me this? Do you have feelings for Rose? Because if not, please end whatever is going on between you, or I’ll end you.
I really wouldn’t put it past her.
I sighed, pulling off my glasses and grasping the arm between my teeth.
ME: I do.
ME: I’m trying to figure it out. Just give me some time.
ISADORA: Okay.
ISADORA: But you might not have that much time.
Her next message had a short video attached, and it was of Rose and a guy I’d never seen before dancing in the park. He was spinning her around, and she was laughing and smiling as he did so.
Ugliness twisted in my gut—a sick, dark jealousy that had my knuckles turning white as my grip on my phone tightened.
I wanted to be there. I wanted to be the one twirling her around like an idiot in the middle of the park.
Like a child, I resented that anyone else was touching her.
Could touch her so openly.
She’d never allow me to do that.
I hated that more than anything.
ISADORA: That guy had a crush on her in school and asked her out a couple of years ago. She said no because she was seeing someone, but everyone knows she’s single.
ME: What are you trying to say?
ISADORA: If I were you, I’d uncomplicate your business lickety split.
ME: Thanks for the tip.
ME: Can’t you get that guy away from her?
ISADORA: Ooh, you’re the jealous type. Does Rose know?
I didn’t care if she knew or not.
Yes, I was jealous. I was so fucking jealous I felt sick. I hated that anyone else was touching her, could hear her laugh like that, could see her smile. I hated that anyone else was able to draw those things out of her when it was such a rarity that I could.
I hated that I was here and couldn’t do anything about it.
I took my glasses from my teeth, set them on my desk, and switched from my chat with Isa to the one with Rose and sent her a message.
ME: What are you doing with that man? Do I have to drive back there and drag you away from him, princess? Because I’ll show everyone just how much you really hate me if you keep dancing with him.
I tapped my fingers against my desk and stared at my screen. No response came, and I glanced at my computer as if a reply from her would magically appear there. My phone flashed with a message, but it was Isadora, not Rose.
ISADORA: Hahaha she just blushed in front of everyone then stormed off. What did you say to her???
ME: She got away from that guy with a crush on her though?
ISADORA: Oh, yeah.
ISADORA: Oh, my.
ISADORA: Your giant face has been pinned to the dartboard.
ISADORA: She just threw a dart right between your eyes.
ISADORA: Now she’s taking a picture of it.
ISADORA: Sending to you for sure.
As she predicted, the next message that came through was a photo from Rose.
ME: Good shot.
ROSE: Where do you get off telling me not to dance with someone?????
ME: I don’t like that he’s touching you.
ROSE: Well, now I know how to make your life hell for the next twenty-four hours.
ME: If you send me pictures of you with guys, you better watch yourself when I’m back. Don’t think I won’t drag you out of your bed and teach you a lesson.
ROSE: Cute.
I hit the button to call her, and before she could speak, I said in a low voice, “Cute? What part of what I just said is cute to you?”
“Your little threat. As if you can make me listen to you,” she taunted me. The background noise got quieter, and I knew she was walking away from the crowds.
I got up and walked over to the window, leaning against one of the sturdy panes. “I can make you listen. Half the job is getting you to shut up and giving you a taste of my cock does that pretty well.”
“You—” she stopped, obviously flustered. “I’ll bite it!”
“Go wild. See what I do to you if you do,” I retorted in a warning tone. “I can tell you this—there’ll be no doubt about who can touch you when I’m done with you.”
Silence.
“You’re jealous,” she whispered, a hint of awe twisting her words.
“Yeah, I’m jealous.” I pressed my fist to my forehead, trying to keep my irritation in check. “Just realised, princess? Or do you want me to make it clearer for you?”
“Actually, yeah, that’d be great. Could you spell it out? Like, exactly.”
Frustrated rumbled in my chest. Gladly. “Don’t touch anyone else. Don’t let them touch you. Don’t dance with another man. Don’t laugh at them. Fuck, don’t even smile at them, not when I can’t see you smiling at me. I don’t like it.”