Page 27 of King of Hearts

“Uh…”

He grabbed his keys. “Let’s get you a new suit.”

“I don’t fucking need one. What you did earlier was rude and uncalled for.”

He smirked, which enraged me.

“Youdoneed one. In fact, I’ll get you several if you want.”

I laughed, letting my petulant side flare. “You know who my dad is, right?”

“Stepdad…yeah, I do,” Juan bit out, glaring at me.

“What is your problem with me? I didn’t do anything to you.” I crossed my arms defensively.

“I don’t have a problem with you. In fact, I’m trying to help you.” He let out a laugh that skittered down my spine and made a home in my soul.

“I don’tneedyour help.”

“You do, preciosa.That’s why you’re here…in my house, because I found you sleeping in a car.”

“Oh my god, I’m not a COW! And I was fine in my car,” I screamed at him, about to pick up a damn photo or vase, fucking something to throw at him. I hated him. “I’m leaving. I’ll be back for my things when I can get Mallory to come with me.” I spun on my heel and opened the door, slamming it shut.

I wasn’t going back that night.

I wouldn’t, not with his infuriating and frustrating mood swings.

Nearly to my car, I heard the door open behind me, which both thrilled me and exasperated me.

I quickened my steps, worried Juan would do something like block my ability to get to my car. I glanced up, seeing him jog down the stairs, bypassing me altogether and heading toward his sports car.

I stopped for a second as I realized he was leaving before I had a chance to.

“Oh no you don’t.” I tugged my door open, hopped inside, and started my engine.

Seeing his taillights flick on, I slammed my foot down on the gas pedal, but he was faster. There was enough room in the circle for two cars to drive side by side, but it narrowed once it straightened into the long drive down to the gate.

His red car moved in front of me and rushed down the road at a hazardous speed. I rolled my eyes, realizing he didn’t care about my rage or my petulant defiance. My chest deflated as I progressed down the road and under the canopy of trees. This was so stupid, this idea that Juan and I could co-exist in the same house.

I tried not to care that he was likely headed to someone’s house, maybe that brunette from the wedding. I hated that I cared, and that he was the only guy who’d ever seemed to make me care about where he went and who he saw or spent his time with.

Right as I rounded the corner on the path, veering for the gate, I saw a flash of red and slammed on my brakes.

Juan’s car was parked parallel in front of the gate, blocking any entrance or exit.

“No.” I breathed out, leaning over my steering wheel.

I was too busy watching the red sports car to realize my passenger door was opening.

“Let’s go, princess.”

Bereft of words, I stared at him. The way his form folded into my car, the way his scent filled up the space, erasing the smell of anyone else…

“Excuse me?” I scoffed, shocked by the fact that he’d just blocked my way out. Internally I smiled at his creativity and that he wasn’t leaving.

“You can turn around right there. If you do it right, you’ll only need a three-point turn. If you don’t, it’ll be more like a fifteen-point turn.”

I stared at him.

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