Page 32 of Unveiled Wishes

I think I’ve given you the wrong impression about me and about us. There’s no us, and there never was. I asked you to write to me to make the time go faster, but that’s all it was. Whatever little girl fantasies you’ve developed, let them go. I’mnot a prince who’s going to ride my horse to the tallest tower and rescue you. Perfect men only exist within romance books. I’m the bad guy.

You should be spending your life with someone of equal status. Pick one of those wealthy Wall Street guys who will treat you the way you deserve. Not Christopher, but someone else with money. I’m not the man for you, and I’ll never amount to anything. You’d be stuck living well below your means because I can’t provide for you.

In a few weeks, you will have forgotten all about me. Honestly, that’s the way it should be. Live your life the way you want, and not as the repressed girl who’s following her family’s plan.

Tyler

Somewhere around the third paragraph, I broke. The little girl, who had sent her soldier letters, had her heart officially broken. The tears streamed down my cheeks, as I curled up with them on the carpet.

***

Zook

“Was she alright today when you two went out?” I asked How, sitting across from him on one couch in the main room. I didn’t want to make her nervous after last night, but I had watched Emily as closely as I could without getting caught. She seemed to be her normal self, but there were a few times when her smile hadn’t been as bright as it should have been. I didn’t want her in pain, but I had to make her see she belonged to me.

“Yeah, she seemed to be okay. Maybe a little tired.” He shrugged. “What did you do?”

“Why would you automatically assume I did something?” I had, but I wouldn’t tell him. After laying out most of my cards,I was waiting for Emily to approach me, but I wasn’t giving her very much space, either.

“We want her to stay, not lug her happy self back to New York.”

“You want her to stay?” I asked him. I didn’t want him pushing her towards me just to make her stay. If she wanted that on her own, I’d make it work, even though it would fucking kill me.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I?” He shrugged again, taking a sip from his beer.

“I am confused. Do you want her to stay for you or for me?” This was important.

“For us. Ugh, that sounds wrong.” He wiped his face with his hand and took a gulp. “If she’s going to live on her own in the city, she might as well live here. At least I could see her all the time.”

“She wouldn’t have to deal with winter anymore.” I smiled, remembering my promise that I hadn’t made to her.

“So, has she forgiven you yet?” How turned towards me, his eyes analyzing mine. I knew he was looking for any detail he could exploit. It didn’t have to be good or bad. How would use it to his advantage.

“I am not sure she should after last night. She was in the main room when I came back downstairs. Neither one of us could sleep and I sat next to her to explain. I am not sure if I made it better or worse, but she took off running to her room,” I said, shifting in my cushion so that my ass cheeks wouldn’t fall asleep.

“Have you actually apologized, or did you just tell her all the reasons you did what you did?”

“I didn’t use the actual words.” It was my turn to rub my hand over my face.

“I know you’re trying to do the whole ‘actions speak louder’ bullshit, but you should apologize. It might be the missing piece you need to get her to see reason.”

“It’s not bullshit. What’s going to happen when you actually find a woman?” How had never shown an interest in anyone, but with as much relationship advice as he was giving out, it made me wonder.

“That’ll never happen. I am not tameable.” He let his head fall back to the couch cushion and closed his eyes.

“Now, that’s fucking bullshit.” I laughed so hard that I ended up doubling over and holding my stomach.

“Nah, I'm not a good man, so there’s no point in trying to be something I'm not.”

I let it go, not feeling like arguing with him. Our circumstances had shaped us differently, but we came from the same mold. If he thought he was a dangerous man, then I didn’t want to remind him I was, too. Most of the brothers were as well.

“You think they’re having a good time?” I changed the subject. The Old Ladies had decided they wanted a night out alone before Christmas. Since this was the last night that the bar would be open, Sabre had let them go. Flo had invited Emily, claiming there was too much testosterone in the club.

“They should be. Raven, Bear and Stands were supposed to meet them there.”

“Do you find it unusual they didn’t let anyone see what they were wearing?” I’d been sitting in the main room, hoping to get a peek at Em, when the women had walked around the clubhouse and slipped into Flo’s car undetected.

“I don’t want to think about it, but it was probably stuff they shouldn’t have. They’re living it up. Hell, it’s the club’s bar. If something’s wrong, they’ll call Prez.”

---