Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 155037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 517(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 517(@300wpm)
“It sounds like fun.” There was something wistful on Remy’s face. And she suddenly wondered what he did on a Friday night. Did he even have any friends? He must have some out at Sanctuary Ranch. Right?
“I realized that I forgot to get your phone number the other day,” Remy said casually. “Would you put it in?” He held out his phone.
Hello, rock and hard place.
Yikes.
But she couldn’t refuse to give him her number, right? She quickly put it in and he immediately texted her.
“Just making sure it was right.” Remy winked at her. “I’ll text you.” He strode away with a nod at Loki. “Make sure you brush your teeth well after all that junk.”
19
Loki was mad.
At least he wanted to be mad. He wanted a reason to punch that guy in the face.
Loki loved a good fight. It was an excellent way to get rid of excess energy. A perfect distraction.
However, he couldn’t go starting one with Remy without a reason.
He looked at Isa like she was important to him.
And that was fucking with Loki’s head.
Because it was the same way he felt about Isa. As though she was his entire world.
He knew he was being selfish, but he didn’t want to share her.
He also didn’t want to lose her.
The only way to keep her for good would be to tie her to him. And he couldn’t do it to her.
Isa deserved someone who could take care of her.
And the fact of the matter was that he didn’t trust himself with her.
Look at what had just happened. She’d needed him and he hadn’t been here.
Isa had a shitty childhood. Stability and calm and someone who was reliable . . . that was what she required.
That wasn’t him.
It could be Remy, though.
But Loki just couldn’t seem to let her go.
Fucking selfish.
“I won’t text him.”
He blinked and looked over at where Isa was sitting curled up on the corner of the couch. About as far away as she could get from him.
Well, he fucking hated that too.
Her show was on, but he hadn’t been paying much attention. Usually, they snuggled up under the same blanket with snacks and watched it together.
This was all wrong.
He exploded out of his seat and started pacing.
All. Fucking. Wrong.
You’re doing it again. You’re not doing what is best for her.
It was a hard revelation when he’d always taken care of Tink.
It hurt.
So. Fucking. Bad.
“Loki? I promise. I won’t even talk to him again. Just please t-talk to me.”
He whirled around. Fuck. She was crying.
Again.
His girl should never cry. Storming over to her, he stood there, heaving for breath. Isa had never been scared of him. Not once. Not even when he was having a flashback or a nightmare or in the middle of a bar brawl.
But she almost looked afraid now.
And he hated that as well.
Loki dropped to his knees in front of her and buried his face in her lap.
“Loki? Hey! Are you all right? Don’t be upset. I promise, I will delete his number and I . . . I won’t have anything to do with him. Okay? I didn’t mean to u-upset you.” She ran her fingers through his hair.
“You’re upsetting me now.”
“What?” she asked as he sat back to stare into her face. “How?”
“By making it clear what an utter jerk I’m being.”
“I don’t . . . I don’t understand.” Tears dripped down her cheeks.
“Oh, Tink. Please don’t cry. Please.” He placed his arms along her thighs.
“I feel like I’m hurting y-you. I l-love you. I don’t want to . . . to hurt you.”
“And I don’t want to hurt you. But I have.”
She shook her head. “No, it’s me. I shouldn’t have let him stay in the house. And I s-shouldn’t have said I’d go to d-dinner with him as a thank you. And I shouldn’t have g-given him my number.”
Dinner? They were going out for dinner?
Rein it in, asshole.
They had the right to go for dinner. Although if anyone owed Remy, it was Loki.
“Tink, look at me.” Reaching up, he lightly grasped her chin. “Look at me.” That time, he used a much firmer voice and it felt good. Especially when she obeyed him.
Fuck.
He wanted her so much. He wanted to kiss her, to love her, to make her come, to tuck her under his arm and keep her safe.
But she deserved better and it wasn’t fair to hold her back.
“You have done nothing wrong.”
She shook her head. “I did. I—”
“Tinkerbelle, you haven’t done anything wrong.” He gave her a stern look. “Say it after me. I haven’t done anything wrong.”
The look she gave him was pure frustration and he nearly smiled. But this was important. She needed to know this.
To believe it.
“Say it. I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“I don’t owe anyone an apology,” he said.