Page 177 of Wicked Minds
His throat bobs at the reminder. “Never again,” he vows. “You are and will always be my first priority. Nothing in the world matters as much as you do.”
“I know.” My smile is shaky but firm as I close the distance and press my lips to his for the entire stadium to see.
“I love you,” I whisper when we pull apart.
There’s an extra shine to his smile. A warmth in the creases of his face. “I love you more, Shortcake.”
50
RILEY
“I’m not having this argument with you again.” I sigh in exasperation.
“I’m not saying you can’t go home,” Grayson argues. “I’m saying you can’t go homeyet.”
I throw my hands up in frustration. “What’s the difference?” Folding my arms across my chest, I tap my foot impatiently as I stare Grayson down in his hallway. Royce is leaning against the doorframe, watching, and Logan has made himself at home on the stairs with a bag of freaking popcorn.
It’s Sunday afternoon, and I’ve spent all weekend with the three of them hovering over me. I’m pretty sure they’re waiting for me to have a psychotic break and snap. Except I’m not. I’m fine… Well, as fine as one can be when they can’t sleep because every time they close their eyes they have nightmares.
I’m… surviving.
It’s not like there’s anything else for it.
I don’t have the luxury of crumbling.
“What’s the difference between going home now and going home later?” I argue.
“The difference is I’ll have security in place later,” Grayson states so casually that it takes a moment for the words to register.
“Security?Whatsecurity?”
“The best security money can buy that I can get away with putting in a building I don’t own—a problem I’ll have to rectify if you’re planning on living there much longer.”
My mouth opens and closes.Geez, there’s so much to unpack there.
“I think you broke her,” Logan whispers without actually lowering his voice.
It startles me out of my inner thoughts. “What do you meansecurity?”
I can already picture my building crawling with men in suits, scaring the other residents and eventually getting me evicted.
“Cameras covering every inch of the building and in your apartment. Really, thelackof security at that place should be criminal,” he utters in derision.
“You put cameras in my apartment?” I shriek in outrage. “Without asking me or getting my consent?”
“Ohhh, you’re in trouble now,” Logan says, seeming far too much like he’s enjoying himself.
Dismissing both of them, I focus on Royce—the voice of reason.
“Sorry, Babydoll,” he says casually. “In this instance, I agree with Gray.”
I roll my eyes. How could I have expected anything different from Mr. Protective? “Of course you do.”
“So what, you can all perv on me any time of the day or night?”
“I hadn’t thought of that, but now that you mention it…” Grayson smirks and I swear, I’m this close to throwing my phone at his face.
“All of you are being ridiculous.”
