Page 89 of Sawyer and the Bookworms

“Book,” I say shortly. “You know. Pages bound together. Words printed on them. That kind of thing.”

He rolls his eyes. “Why d’you have a book with you?”

“It belongs to Brinlee. She forgot it at the café.”

“She likes books, huh?” It’s as if he’s talking to himself. “And so do you.”

“Doesn’t everyone with half a brain?” I snark.

He flinches, a tiny jerk. He opens his mouth to reply.

“He hates them,” Roman says cheerfully from the front of the car. “Archer and I like reading, but not Kyrian.”

“Yeah,” I mutter, “that’s the impression I got. But why?”

Kyrian’s mouth closes, then opens again, a fair imitation of a fish. Finally, he repeats, “Why?”

“Yeah, why don’t you like books?”

“Not everyone has to like books,” he grumbles, looking away, his square jaw set.

“Sure, but those who don’t like books are wrong.” I smirk. “What is it about them that you don’t like?”

“They’re a waste of time,” he says, and that gets all my hackles up.

“Really, now? You don’t like stories?”

“I… like stories,” he says, his voice strangely gruff, “that’s not…”

“Not what?”

“Not your fucking business.”

“Really? You guys come calling, drag me off to watch Brinlee work a job she may hate while we sit there, and you have the gall to tell me that?—”

“Who gives you the right to judge me,” Kyrian seethes, his gaze back on me, his jaw tight, “to tell me?—”

“Hey,” I return, “you’re one to talk, you’re the one who knocked on my door and told me I lost track of time?—”

“That wasn’t criticism, that was concern!”

“And I am concerned you don’t seem to know boundaries?—”

“Kids! Stop it!” Roman twists about in his seat, glaring at us. “Stop fighting. Ky, don’t be a rude asshole.”

Kyrian’s jaw clamps even tighter than before.

He’s such a contradiction. I don’t get him. Hot and cold, concerned and indifferent. He hates books, but he loves stories.

Whatever.

Coming with them was a mistake. Has to be. Wanting to be with them, too. But we’re already arriving at the club, and again I’m not dressed for such a place. Once more Archer waves his invisible rich top alpha card, and we’re waved inside.

How stupid am I? Brinlee will hate my guts.

29

BRINLEE

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