Page 188 of Broken by my Bully
He wants to talk about our relationship?
It just climbed over the barrier at Lookout Point wearing even shittier flip-flops than the ones I have on.
Fuck, that feels like an eternity ago.
But whatever I thought that night, it led me here, and here is a hell of a lot better than where I would have been.
Which would be dead.
Or in a coma.
Or, a paraplegic.
I mean, my life still sucks, but at least I have my health.
And someone who cares about me enough to give me nice things.
Movement catches my eye. Bastian must spot Milo headed our way at the same time I do. He lets go of my hand, and I slip it into my lap, bowing my head as I fight a furious blush.
“Need anything else over here?” Milo asks.
“No thank you.” Bastian gives him a small nod. “Your food is exceptional.”
“I know,” Milo says, then smiles faintly as he turns to me. “Nice to see you again, Haven.”
I peek at him through my lashes, nodding, and he frowns at me before shaking his head and walking away.
“He likes you.” He says it as if he’s deciding whether Milo’s a problem that needs solving or not.
I throw Bastian a glare. “So?”
Bastian chuckles, but his eyes are dark as he tips his head back to drain the last of his beer. “Christ, don’t sound so defensive. It was merely an observation.”
“I wasn’t being—“ I cut off when I hear how defensive I sound.
“Let me walk you back,” Bastian says, standing.
I’m hoping he’ll take hold of my arm, or caress the small of my back again, but he keeps a careful distance between us. Guess our talk did exactly what I needed it too.
Setting boundaries.
So why am I so pissed off that he doesn’t touch me again?
He waits for me to unlock the Land Rover’s door and then holds it open for me as I get in. “Straight back to the sorority house,” he says, lifting his eyebrows as he starts to close the door.
I’m about to tell him I have a shift at the diner when he adds, “See you later.”
“Later?” I squeak.
“At the gala?” He curls his fingers over the top of the door, leaning against the edge. We’re too close again. His scent enveloping me, his eyes too beautiful to look away from.
“Oh.That.” I laugh as I shake my head. “Yeah, I’m not going.”
There’s a bemused smile on his mouth. “I thought you girls couldn’t wait to put on your pretty dresses and parade around like—“ He cuts off, mouth tightening.
I swing my legs out of the car, leaning in even closer. “Were you going to say grown-ups?”
His hands tighten on the top of the car door as he looks away to chuckle. “Christ, I just keep fucking this up.”
