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“What do you want it to be?” I press a kiss to the hair near her temple.

“I don’t know.” She places a palm on my chest.

That she’s confused about what she wants makes something inside me shift painfully. That’s expected. Still, it doesn’t make it any easier to know she still has feelings for him despite her denials.

“About last night...” She tips her head back to look up at me.

“You regret it?”

“No.” She faces me. “No, not at all. But you said one time that I should tell you if I want something more...”

“You’re not up for that,” I say.

“No.” She smiles sympathetically. “I’m not. And I don’t know if I ever will be. I like you, Kodiak, but I’m...”

“Still in love with that fool,” I mutter.

“I was going to say broken.” Her brows squish together. It’s cute as hell. “I’m not in love with him. I still hate him.”

“Okay.” If she says so.

“I’m too broken to be with anyone in any serious manner.” She grimaces.

Except him? If he gave her reason...

“Maybe in time...” she swallows the rest of her thought, and I’m grateful. I don’t need empty hope. That doesn’t mean I’m giving up hope. But I won’t cling to the words of a woman who isn’t yet in a place to say them.

“It’s cool, Scary Girl. I get it.” I give her an easy grin. “You want to flirt and fuck around, I’m good with that too. Especially since it looks like we’re going to be sharing a bed every night for the foreseeable future. I am definitely getting between those lush thighs again. “I’m even good with sharing you with Bronx and Golden. If you need that to happen.”

Because she should have everything she wants and needs. And Riot should fucking know what he’s losing with every day he spends giving in to Sonatina.

She scrunches her nose. “I can’t believe that bitch. Hijacking the tour.”

“Yes, well... she never makes things easy for us. Especially not Riot.” I’d like to know what messed up thoughts were running through his head when he slipped the ring on her scrawny finger. What threats did she sell him on this time? “Why don’t you go have a shower and get ready. I’m taking you out. We could both use some time to decompress.”

“That would be nice.”

“Maybe we could catch a movie. Or grab some iced coffees and go for a drive. Or there’s this cool gallery—"

“All of those sound nice.” She lifts her chin high. “But how do you feel about axe throwing?”

7

Riot

“Not there.” Sonatina snaps at Lennon for the twentieth time since she’s been here. “There. Can’t you get anything right? No one expects you to have an eye for detail, but it matters, Lennon. I need my red light facing thirty-two degrees off the headboard. Even half a degree matters. How many times do I have to tell you that?”

Lennon’s head drops lower. Her gaze sticks to the light panel she is trying to get just right for a woman who, I’m pretty sure, is making her life hell for her own amusement.

“Why Daddy ever thought you could do this job... I told him you were too hopeless to be useful.” Sonatina lets out a haughty little huff before she spins around and puts herself against me. “I’m sorry you had to see that. But you know how hard it is to find good help.”

“Why don’t you leave her alone? She’s doing a great job, and you know it.” Arms glued to my side, I’m as stiff as a board. I don’t want to touch her. I don’t want her fucking touching me. With a week to go until we get back on the buses, I can’t believe this shit is happening at all.

“Oh, honey. Don’t be so mean.” She grabs my hand and puts it on the small of her back.

Every time she touches me, my skin crawls. Bile burns the back of my throat. I want to vomit. I snatch my hand back to my side.

“Remember your place in all of this,” she coos. “Happy. In love. Over that bitch who is screwing all your friends.”