Page 58 of Cost of Courting

“We called, we came back, we rang Luna and spoke to her all the time. You were so angry, everyone said to give you more time.”

He moves closer so he’s pressed against me, his breath hot on my ear.

“Selene, we never forgot about you. We were always coming back.”

I growl. I know he feels it because his fingers tighten around my throat. What he can’t feel is the way my poor, shrivelled, dead heart flops in my chest at his words.

“I don’t want to be discarded again.”

“You won’t be,” he murmurs.

My heart leaps towards him, longing to believe.

“We won’t discard you, we won’t abandon you, we won’t leave you, Sel.”

His palm slides up, tilting my chin back so my head is resting on his shoulder.

Mael’s other hand, the one not on my throat, presses against me, just under my belly button, before sliding just a fraction lower.

“You are so beautiful.”

“You didn’t think so before.”

“We always thought so before,” Mael whispers. “We always saw you, Selene. Always.”

I open my eyes and stare at the dark canopy of leaves moving in the slight breeze. All these words I longed to hear.

“If you saw…” I rip free of him, ignoring the way my heart rips with it, “If you actually, truly saw me, you never would have left with her.”

Mael hisses, but I ignore him, stalking away. I’m grateful for their help. So is the neighbourhood, but I don’t need them, and I don’t want them.

Bailey is sitting onmy bed reading a magazine when I get home. I kick off my boots and strip out of my clothes.

“Are you going to ignore me forever?”

“I’m thinking about it,” I say and pull on a singlet. “Does Luna know that you’re here?”

Bailey stills. “No. You know it wasn’t serious between us. We barely dated. We only kissed once-”

I hold my hand up, the sharp pain of betrayal once again slamming into me, leaving me wondering if I should stab him or fuck him.

“I don’t want to hear about what you did with my sister.”

Bailey sits up, and his damn eyes glitter at me. “You’re jealous.”

“I’m not,” I refute hotly. “I just don’t want any damn nightmares.” With a frustrated grumble, I flick the light switch off. I’ve got used to these bed invaders, and if I want sleep, the easiest thing to do is just accept they are here.

Bailey grins. “You dream about me?”

I pause with one knee on the bed. “I do not. Can you leave?”

“Hmm, no. I’ve got nowhere to sleep tonight, so I thought I might stay here with you.”

I let out a growl, but I’m too tired to argue with him, so I punch my pillow and flop down with my backto him.

“You were with Mael tonight.”

“Want to sit up and talk about it? We can braid each other’s hair and giggle?”

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