Page 39 of His Reward
What a petty asshole.
He ended the call because I spoke the truth and he didn’t like hearing it.
I’m lock my phone and set it aside when it pings from a new text message.It’s probably a threatening follow up from Mr.Wolsey, ordering me to obey his rules or he’ll kick me out of the apartment.
I’m not in the mood for more of his drama after listening to him over the phone, but I swipe down my notifications bar to read the text anyway.
It’s not from my landlord.It’s from the man who’s been on my mind all day, no matter how hard I try to focus on anything else.
Malcolm: When do you get off work?
I hesitate to reply, suspicious of his motive for asking.
June: Around 7.Why?
Malcolm: Just want to know what time to pick you up.
June: That’s OK.I have a monthly pass.
It’s silly to reject his offer.Instead of enduring a packed, humid, hour-long bus ride, I could cruise home in air-conditioned comfort in his truck.
It’s the principle of the thing, dammit!Tyler called meheartless, but he’s so wrong.Malcolm did something a sensible person would find unforgivable.My stupid heart is softening because of his actions afterwards.
Once again, he put himself in danger to keep me safe by fighting off the intruder… and then he made me come.
Saying no to Malcolm’s kind gestures makes it easier to stay upset with him like I want to.Anger is my sergeant, toughening up my heart and smacking those rose-tinted glasses away so I don’t put them on again for him.
I mean, Ididhave that chicken wrap he made for me.It was really good, and that worked to keep the fire of anger burning.How dare he make tasty food after what he did?
Malcolm replies with a thumbs-up reaction.I wait for more, but he doesn’t say anything else.I guess he accepted my foolish choice.
Around closing time, I’m rearranging dresses in the correct order and tidying up in preparation to leave.The door sensor alerts me that someone entered the store.
Katelyn left early today, which means I have to lock up.I should’ve done it sooner and turned the sign.
As much as I would love the commission, I’m too tired to put on my sales persona.Hopefully, this customer is just a lookie-loo who’ll leave once I politely tell them the store is closing in a few minutes.
I return to the front and halt.Malcolm is seated in the store’s teal sofa, looking too comfortable with one arm slung over the backrest and his leg crossed over his knee.
Summoned by the sight of him, the filthy memories from last night return in full force.Flutters fill my stomach and warmth rush up my neck.The intensity of his stare tells me he’s remembering everything too.
I fold my arms.“What are you doing here?”
“To take you home.”
“I told you, I’m taking the bus.”
He scoffs.“June, come on.You know that’s ridiculous.”
“How is it ridiculous to use of my monthly pass?It’s expensive.Almost a hundred and sixty dollars.”
A faint smile curves his lips.“Then why did you accept the ride I gave you to work yesterday morning?”
“Because I didn’t know the real you yet.If I had known, I wouldn’t have accepted the ride then either.”
He uncrosses his legs and stands, rising from the sofa like a mountain pushing up from the earth, tall and imposing.
“You knew the real me last night.”He comes closer, his voice silken.“You didn’t seem to mind.”
