Page 27 of Contrition

I was utterly confused now. Theo’s expression matched my own, even as she still held onto his shirt. “Meant what? What are you talking about right now?”

She was whiplash incarnate.

A rolling mix of emotions ran across her face, consisting all the way from confusion, sadness, anger, and more. Her next words cut deep as she shoved Theo away, held onto the camera bag strap that was on her shoulder, and turned away, shaking her head. “Fuck you both for putting me through this like it’s fucking normal. I’m going back to my hotel room, and you’re not invited.”

I blinked.

Theo blinked.

The man running the food stand called for us to move up so he could take our order as we watched her walk away.

And then, her words from that morning echoed in my head.

Chase me.

For the first time since I had gotten that email from Sophie, anger filled my head. Blinding hot anger and rage.

I was fucking sick of her push and pull games already.

That girl was ours ready whether she was willing to comprehend it or not.

So, no. Absolutelynot.I was not letting her walk away from me like that. I wasn’t letting her play games like that, even if we both deserved the torture. And I didn’t give a fuck if I was about to be hit with the restraining order of a lifetime by my own wife. I had been a coward for years—nearly an entire decade—and I was tired of it, once and for all.

If she wanted to play a push and pull game—then she could. But it would bewithus, rather than against us.

I jogged after her. With my long legs, I caught up to her in no time. With Theo on my heels, I grabbed her by my waist and tossed her directly over my shoulder. She squealed before I felt her hand pound at my lower back. “Let me down, you idiot!”

I landed one firm, rough smack on her ass that had her gasping. Turning to Theo, I ignored her as I asked, “Where to?”

Phones pointed at us everywhere. Our actions and words would undoubtedly be on a magazine cover by daylight. Though, somehow, I didn’t give a fuck about the damage control we would have to face whatsoever.

My wife’s attitude needed to be corrected.

Theo looked around, gauging the scene with us, before he nodded towards the Ferris wheel. The line was quickly diminishing, and it was certainly a better place to have thechatI needed to have with Estrella—compared to anywhere else at a festival like a damned porta-potty—so it was better than nothing. And regardless of this little PR spectacle, I doubted our agent would be remotely thrilled with either of us if we shoved Estrella in an Uber for the hotel.

I could see the headline then.

From Stars to Evolution kidnaps girl?!

Fuck no.

I shrugged before trudging my way back towards it. The man running the corn dog stand watched us pass by in shock, yet returned back to making someone’s order when I waved and gave him a proper thumbs-up.

Theo giggled at my back before whispering. “My cabbages!”

I turned to him with a raised brow as I got behind a couple wanting to join the Ferris wheel in front of us. “Are you seriously quotingAvatar: The Last Airbenderright now? Of all times?”

“What? I’m just a boy. Leave me alone.”

Estrella growled and hit my lower back again. I groaned that time. I was fit for my age, and carrying her was no burden to me at all, but my poor bones would snap if she kept that up. In an attempt to make her stop, I slapped her ass one more time and made sure it was hard enough to leave a sting. She whimpered against me, “God, you’re such a dick.”

I smirked as I met the attendee’s eyes when it was our time to get on the ride. She was a young girl, probably around the age of twenty or so, and they widened dramatically as they took in our situation. Theo dug in his back pocket for his wallet before he handed her a full-fledged one-hundred dollar bill. “Pretend that this thing gets stuck when we get to the top, yeah? I’ll give you another one if you make it last a solid twenty-minutes or so?”

She stuttered before taking it. “Uh-uhm. Su-sure. Okay!”

I nodded in thanks before gesturing for Theo to get in the carriage, where I immediately followed. I maneuvered the still-wiggling and growling Estrella before gently placing her in between us, right as Theo lowered the safety bar. It clicked in place, locking, and we both turned to her with a smirk.

Her face was red as a tomato as she seethed. “What the fuck?”

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