And right now? I think he might be seeing past my pathetic decisions, catching a glimpse of the real me. Or maybe I’m crazy. Because if my own boyfriend didn’t want me, why would the guy in front of me be any different?
“Cat got your tongue?” he teases, that same vulnerability shining just beneath the surface of his dark eyes.
“It’s not that I think you couldn’t take him,” I explain. “I just wouldn’t want him touching the moneymaker, right?”
Amused, he replies, “Not unless he got down on his knees first.”
“Well, if you had ended up getting hurt, I would’ve felt like I had to be the one to get on my knees.” As soon as the statement pops out of my mouth, my face burns with embarrassment, and my eyes widen in shock.
Filter, Reese! Ever heard of one?
River’s mouth quirks up in amusement, his thumb brushing against the back of my hand that’s still cradling his bruised one.
The innocent touch makes my knees weak as he prods, “So, let me get this straight. If I stormed into the family room right now and picked a fight to defend your honor, you’d––”
“Come on, guys,” Jake interrupts from the doorway while simultaneously popping the little bubble I’d found myself surrounded in. “We grabbed everything out here. Are you ready to go?”
River drops his hand back to his side, then zips up the duffle bag with my clothes.
With a subtle shake of my head, I clear my throat and turn to Jake. “Uh, yup. We’re ready.”
“Good.” Jake nods. “Let’s get going.”
Then he disappears, leaving an awkward silence in his wake as if he knows he just walked in on something. I’m not sure what the hell that was, but it was definitely unexpected and…unwanted? I glance over at River, but he’s too busy rummaging through the almost empty drawers to notice me.
Apparently, we’re done flirting.
Which is a good thing.
So why do I miss it?
Sticking my hands into my back pockets, I turn on my heel and trail behind Jake without bothering to see if River follows me or not. Because I shouldn’t want him to. When I reach the family room and kitchen area, my eyes find Ian’s without being able to help myself.
“Did you get everything?” he asks, keeping his tone calm and even.
I nod. “Yeah. Thanks.”
“Mind if we talk for a second?”
It’s like I’m talking to a completely different person than the guy who lost control outside our place less than ten minutes ago, which I guess makes sense when you’re dealing with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Gibbs interjects, “Unfortunately, we have to get going. River has a date tonight and would hate to be late, so…”
I blanch but cover it up with a look of indifference as quickly as I can.
A date?
Jealousy eats at my insides like a crippling stomach bug, though I have no idea why. I’m not jealous. It’s River. Womanizing, sarcastic River. Of course, he has a date.
“Please?” Ian begs me. The word is foreign on his lips. “You promised.”
Surprised at the gentleness in his voice, I clear my throat as memories from the good moments in our relationship flash in the back of my mind. The thoughts are a welcome respite from the images of River and his revolving door of women he likes to spend his time with, and I grab hold of it with both hands.
“Sonny’s right,” River interrupts. Sidling up next to me, he presses his hand against my lower back and urges me toward the door. “We gotta get going. Might wanna put some ice on your face, though. Looks like it’s swelling a bit.”
My feathers ruffle even though I refuse to acknowledge it as I shrug away from his touch and put a few feet of distance between us. Wouldn’t want him to be late for his date.
“You can go wait in the truck. I’ll be out in a minute.”
Surprised by my order, he opens his mouth to argue before Jake appears through the front door and interrupts, “Everything’s loaded up. Milo just got a call from one of his clients who wants to move up their appointment, so we gotta get going.”
“I’ll be right out,” I reply.
“Let’s get going, Reese,” Gibbs rumbles.
I shake my head, fighting my annoyance at the fact River has a date tonight, along with the knowledge that every guy in this room wants to control me.
“I said I’ll be right out,” I repeat without bothering to look at Gibbs. “I promised Ian we’d have a quick chat, remember?”
Jake watches the interaction carefully before motioning to River and Gibbs. “Come on, guys. She’s a big girl.”
There’s a moment of hesitation before a frustrated Gibbs heads out the front door without looking back. The warmth from River’s presence behind me disappears a beat later as he follows his friends outside, but he stops at the exit and pushes the door the rest of the way open.
With a pointed stare, he warns, “We’ll be right outside.” Then he steps across the threshold and leaves me alone with my ex.
A deep, weighted silence envelops the room before I turn to him and lift my chin in defiance.
“I’m giving you two minutes to say your piece. Then we’re done.”
Tsking, he pushes himself up from the couch and swaggers closer. “Are you sure you want that, babe?”
“Positive.”
“And you won’t forgive me for this one mistake?”
My breath catches in my throat before my gaze darts to the still-open front door. Thankfully, it’s empty, but that doesn’t stop the bile from creeping into my throat.
“I’ve already forgiven you for too many mistakes. I deserve more than that.”
He raises his hand and brushes a few strands of hair away from my face with a soft, knowing smile. “Do you? All because those boys out there seem interested in you? Is that why? You think you can just…replace me? What we have?”
“Had,” I correct him. My heart is pounding against my rib cage until I’m positive he can hear it.
“Don’t do this, Reese. I need you, babe. I don’t know why you look so surprised. I told you that we’re forever––”
“But you don’t even want me anymore, Ian.” My desperation slowly seeps into my explanation. “If you did, you wouldn’t have cheated on me. This is all about control to you.”
“It is,” he acknowledges, dragging the back of his fingers along the column of my throat before brushing them along my bare arms in a gentle caress. It leaves my skin crawling. “You’ve always known how much it drives me crazy to want something I can’t have. And you in those tight jeans with the chip on your shoulder?” He chuckles. “It’s a heady concoction.”
“I’m sure you can find someone else to entertain you––”
“But they won’t be you. I want you. And we both know that I’m stubborn enough to get what I want. Don’t we, Reese? Just like all the times before…”
“It’s different this time.” I’m not sure who I’m trying to convince. Him. Or me.
Leaning a little closer, his breath fans across my face. “Is it?”
“Yes,” I whisper. “I’m not going to let you play with me like your little toy anymore. I deserve more than that.”