AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s a wrap,” he said. “And the company had someone work with me to design it.”
“That sounds interesting.”
He told me all about the process and as an artist, although I didn’t work much with graphics, I found it fascinating. Colors and fonts and general style notes. “And I wanted it bright but not so bright that it would be garish, you know?”
He’d gone with the Hawaiian theme, tropical greenery and hibiscus flowers, and it sounded amazing. “I can’t wait to see it.”
It didn’t take long to get there, even with a quick stop for a to-go coffee and sausage, egg, and cheese croissant. West insisted he wasn’t hungry, but I noticed he managed to do justice to the sandwich. The other models I’d worked with had mentioned how careful they had to be with their diet, but I was starting to think he’d been under a whole other level of pressure. Shifters had a lot of leeway in terms of physical fitness, and that was also something those other models told me. Shifter metabolism made their lives a whole lot easier.
But West spoke as if he hadn’t had a slice of bread through his entire career and hadn’t really gone back to more normal eating yet. I loved watching him eat but hated thinking of how long he hadn’t done enough of it.
We arrived at his house at the same time as the delivery, but as I turned to comment as much, West jerked upright in the seat, the remains of his sandwich crumbling to the floorboards.
Chapter Twelve
West
“Hello, West. I’ve missed you.”
My heart sank. I’d had an amazing night with my omega. The most amazing and loving sex this morning. I climbed out of the car to face my past.
My body shuddered in response to his voice.
And now Clint had soured the day with his presence. I bet that wasn’t all he was going to grace us with either. He had that look on his face. As a former people-pleaser, I could already tell that he had something on his mind.
“Why are you here, Clint?” I asked, noticing that he was leaned on my truck with one hip. Cocky son of a bitch. Always was. His arms were crossed over his chest, and he smiled.
His eyes ticked to Antoine. “I didn’t realize you were bringing a friend.”
I ignored his dig. Feeding it would only bring more words from him, and I had a feeling none of them would be nice. They never were when he wore that smile.
“I’m going to ask you again, Clint. Why are you here?”
“Oooh, the cub has grown some balls, I see. You’ve also gained some weight around the tummy. Off your strict diet, or did you eat from the emotional pain of leaving someone like me.”
Maybe I did, a little, but it wasn’t because of the pain. It was from the utter regret of staying with him so damned long.
“Why do you care? I’m not yours. We aren’t together and haven’t been for a while.”
Clint shrugged. “I told you. I miss you.”
That was the second time he’d said it. I didn’t believe it and, even if I did, I didn’t give a shit. I had a beautiful omega now. One who would never degrade me or try to control me. One who was growing to love me for who I was, not who they wanted me to be.
He didn’t miss me. He missed pushing me around, emotionally and physically. Makeup designers had to cover up bruises on a few occasions.
“Well, I’m taken. And even if I wasn’t, you and I are over. There is a reason I asked you never to contact me again.”
I had. I had texted and sent an email. I wanted no contact with him. He was the kind of person who would twist and tangle a hello and have me back in his grasp in minutes.
“Aww, you didn’t mean that, did you? After all we’ve been through? You said you loved me.”
Antoine, who had my hand in his, tensed slightly. “I did. That was a mistake. I confused infatuation and codependency for love.”
He ignored my response and shrugged one shoulder, pushing off my cart. “I’m sorry about the money. I needed it for something important.”
“I don’t care. I closed the account. It was a mistake to trust that you wouldn’t steal from me. I learned my lesson and a lot more from you, Clint.”
“Does he tell you he loves you too, little fox?” Clint turned his attention on Antoine.
