Page 118 of Quarterback Sneak
“Why?”
“Because I asked him to.”
I bristle and sit back against my seat. “Zane, is this some form of control? Because I will tell you right now, if this is so that you can watch what I do when you’re not around or make sure I don’t talk to other guys...it won’t work between us. I don’t want thatkind of relationship. Things with Jace got off on the wrong foot so fast, and it turned out horribly. I don’t want to go down that road again.”
He leans forward. “You’re not.”
Chapter 49
Evie
His jaw tightens. “I’m not anything like Jace.”
I don’t say anything. Deep down, I know he’s nothing like Jace, but there’s still that lingering uncertainty. Or maybe it’s fear. I push away my plate, no longer hungry. I look up and find Zane’s eyes on my face, seeing too much. He reaches out his arm, palm open on the table. I put my hand in his without any hesitation. I watch with interest as his whole body seems to relax. I'm almost scared to ask, but I need to know. I don’t want to be that scared, naive girl that blindly goes into relationships; what’s more, I don’t want to be like my mom. She made a big mistake with my dad and made it even bigger when she wouldn’t leave him when she should have. My stomach rolls, and I put my hand on my stomach and meet Zane’s gaze. “My mom married a guy that wanted control.” I drop my eyes to the table, feeling like he sees too much. “He controlled everything she did, where she went, what friends she had. She never could do anything without him knowing and approving what she was doing.” I laugh bitterly. “And yet, he had no such issues with doing whatever he wanted with whomever he wanted, if you catch my drift. I tried for years to get her to leave him. It was only after his third woman on the side or maybe the fourth that she finally told him she was done. Well, she’d told him before that she was done; but he always managed to talk her into taking him back. He’d find a way to pin it on her.” I shake my head. “It was always her fault. If she would just do whatever he wanted, then everything wouldwork out.” I take a breath. “Needless to say, I’m a little leery of controlling guys.”
“I’m sorry, Evie.” His hand tightens on mine a moment. “Did you get stuck in the middle of it?”
I laugh humorlessly. “He used to try to convince me that their dysfunctional relationship was my fault.”
“You know that’s not true, right?”
I nod. “I do...now.” I take a deep breath. “I used to think that if I was just good enough, peaceful enough, things would be better between them. I would even try to get my mom to just do what he asked. And then I grew up and realized how awful he was. Then I switched to trying to convince her to leave him.” I fall silent and sigh. “That’s why we moved to Florida. I finally convinced her to leave him. We came here to live with my uncle, my mom’s brother, just until we can get back on our feet.” I finally finish my sad saga, and the silence stretches between us.
“Maybe if your dad ever comes to visit you, don’t introduce me.”
My eyes jerk to his, and I see his body is stiff with anger. “Why?” I ask softly, needing to know.
“Because I’m pretty sure I'd kill him.”
I’m waiting for him to say he’s teasing, but he doesn’t. I try to pull my hand from his, but he doesn’t let me. He waits until my eyes are on his again. “I’m sorry, Evie. I’m sorry you had to endure all that but thank you for telling me. It helps me understand you so much better. I want you to know that I will never do that to you.” He ducks his head when I drop my eyes, so we still maintain eye contact. “I know words are just words, but I’ll show you. Iwillearn your trust, and I’ll keep at it until I do.”
I take a deep breath. “Then why was Reid at lunch? Why do you have him watching me? And Zane, you’d better tell me the truth.”
“Because of who you are.” His hand tightens on mine. “I know we didn’t really get to talk the other night. I wanted to give you time to adjust to all this. You met my wolf.” I nod. “You're my mate.” He pauses and searches my face. “You’re basically my soul-mate, the only one I will ever be with. Mates are everything to us. As wolves, we mate and bond for life. You’re that for me—my everything, the one I’ve waited my entire life for.” His hand tightens on mine. “You’re incredibly important to me, but you’re also a target. My father is the alpha of our pack, and I’m in line to inherit his position one day. I’ll be the next alpha of our pack, and you’re my mate. The best way to get to me is through you. So yes, you’re protected at all times.”
“What do you mean at all times?”
He sits back in his chair. “Somebody’s been on security detail for you since I found out who you were to me.”
My eyes widen. “I’ve never seen anybody until Reid today at lunch.”
“Yeah. I know. We didn’t want to scare you off.”
I take in everything he’s saying. “All the time?” He nods. “Even at night?” He nods again.
I study his body language. “You stay outside my dorm room at night.” It’s not a question.
He doesn’t look away. “Almost every night.”
“Why?”
He runs a hand through his hair. “I can’t sleep here knowing you’re unprotected in your dorm room. I already hate what happened to you that night in the woods. I will never let something like that happen again.”
“You just stay outside, though, right?”
He doesn’t look away from me. “Yes.”
I eye him. “So...”
