Page 163 of Timeless

Why had been looking at me to begin with?

I wasn’t bringing him into my problems. I wasn’t even bringing Amber into them. I should have kept my fucking coat on. Though how was I meant to know he was going to get up at three in the morning?

I stared at him a bit longer. “Night, Troy.” I dismissed his concern, taking my eyes off him and headed back to the dining table. I wasn’t telling him my problems. He had helped me out enough.

I was nearly back at the table, when he was suddenly in my way. He was closer now, inspecting the bruising.

“Who grabbed you?” He went to touch the bruise, as if to make sure it was what he thought it was.

I stepped back. “It isn’t your concern.” He wasn’t my brother or boyfriend and I wasn’t some girl that he had to look after because I belonged to his club. I was an independent woman, one who was in over her head. But still I wasn’t bringing anyone into my mess.

His eyes narrowed. “That ex-boyfriend didn’t get the message?”

“He’s not an ex.” I knew it was stupid, admitting I was still connected to Mason. But if Troy thought I was some stupid blonde who would go back to a guy who abused her, he wouldn’t waste his time with me. Which meant he would stay out of my problems.

“You went back to him.”

I sighed. “Troy. I don’t have to explain myself to you. I’m not your sister. I’m not even a friend. So, go ahead judge me. But keep your opinion to yourself.” With that said, I went to go around him but he blocked me.

I didn’t need to stand here and be told off. I was not his problem.

“You know, you fooled me once with that.” He stepped closer to me. “I thought you were one of those girls, who was stupid enough to stay with a guy who abused her.” His voice was calm, almost like the calm before the storm. “Until I saw your personality.”

I didn’t know what to say, so I kept my mouth shut. What did he mean, he saw my personality? I blended into the walls.

“You put others first. Willing to take the fall for someone, if it meant keeping that person from getting hurt.” He got me summed up in one sentence? How the fuck was that possible? “My sister does the same thing. Makes sense you and her are friends.”

I remained quiet but crossed my arms and started glaring at the floorboards.

“So, what does this dude have over you?” He said that like he was willing going to take my problems on board.

I looked up, keeping my expression neutral. “Nothing.”

“Bullshit.”

“Just go to bed, Troy.”

“Stubborn. Another thing you got in common with my sister.”

I groaned. “I’m not your sister! Fucking hell! I’m not letting you get involved in my problems. Hear me when I say that. My problems, not yours.” And they weren’t his problems. Not his family problems. Not his club problems. They were my problems. And I’d deal with them on my own.

He crossed his arms. I hadn’t made him pull back. If anything, he looked more determined. “Okay then. How are you dealing with your problems? Come on, tell me. What is your plan?”

My plan? I didn’t have one. I guess all I wanted was to keep Mason’s mouth shut about Amber’s history and not get her arrested or cause her to lose her job.

“Just give him what he wants, I guess.” I shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal. “If that means dinner with his parents, pretending like we are a happy couple, then I’ll do it.”

“You aren’t fucking serious, are you?” Troy looked at me like I was lying.

“Believe it or not, Troy, I’m not usually this dressed up. But you know dinner at a five-star restaurant requires it.” And the fact Mason always wanted me to look like this perfect woman, flaunt my body, well, his expectations hadn’t changed.

His eyes ran down me, and then he looked me in the eye and I saw it so fucking clearly. Disappointment. It didn’t shake me. I was used to being a disappointment.

“A real man never hits a woman. You stupid enough to think he’s a good man? He’s a bully. Nah, fuck that. He is a pussy. No man hits a woman. Simple.” He was giving me a speech like I didn’t know those things. “What you going to do if you have kids with him? And he starts abusing them? You want that for your children?”

God, why was he even mentioning that? “I will never have a child with him.” I would never allow it. Never. He wasn’t having a child with me. Suddenly, Troy was making me see a bigger picture, one that didn’t just involve my wellbeing. I might be willing to take Mason’s abuse but what if, on the slim chance, I did have a child with him.

Mason always knew how to sweet talk me, make me forget all the bad shit he did. He could easily pull the wool over my eyes and before I knew it, I’d be agreeing to anything. Like when he broke my arm so badly I was in the hospital. He was so sweet to me, knew exactly what to say so I didn’t press charges and when I got discharged, I went back home with him.

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