Page 206 of Lessons in Cruelty

“I can help you, Haven. But not if you keep pushing me away.”

He rubs his thumb over my skin, sending electric tingles through my body.

I want to slap him.

I want to kiss him.

I want to climb onto his lap and see that savage look in his eyes when I unzip him. But the last time someone promised to do me a favor, all they did was hurt me.

Again, and again, and again.

I grab his wrist, yanking my fingers out of his firm grip. My hand shakes as I swipe at the tears that race down my cheeks.

“I don’t need your help,” I spit out, fingers fumbling as I try to release the safety belt.

He reaches over to help me, like I’m a fucking child, and I slap his hand away.

“I don’t need your help!”

Then I’m bolting out of his car, to the Land Rover. Pulling at the handle as I furiously swipe away at the incessant stream of tears. The wind throws my hair against my mouth. I spit it out, shrugging my face against my shoulder.

He comes up behind me. “Haven…”

I hear the keys jangle, and I turn just enough to see them dangling from his hand. I snatch them away from him, fumbling, dropping them.

“Calm down.”

“Shut the fuck up.” I finally get the car unlocked, wrenching the door open so fast I almost hit myself in the face.

Wouldn’t that have been hilarious?

But I can’t close it, because Bastian’s holding the top, and he’s leaning in. “We’re going to talk this out like adults⁠—”

“No, because I’m a fucking child, remember?”

“I never said that.”

“You did!” I tug at the door. “Leave it! I’m late for my shift!”

He hangs his head and sighs like it’s so fucking hard being an adult with unlimited money and no problems. “You don’t have a shift.”

I bark out a laugh. “Yes, I fucking do. But not for much longer if you don’t. Let. Go!” I keep yanking at the door handle, but it’s like playing tug of war with a pit bull.

Bastian glances away, looking dead fucking serious when he turns back. “You don’t have a shift, Haven, because you don’t work at the diner anymore.”

I stop tugging. “What?”

He licks his lips. Rolls his bottom one between his teeth. Not like he’s stalling, but like he’s savoring. “You should be studying, not serving patty melts.”

“I should…” I shake my head as icy prickles shoot through my fingertips. “What did you do?”

“The sorority provides you with full room and board. If you need anything else, you can just come to me. You don’t have to work anymore.” He delivers every word with a zen-like assurance that makes me want to scream.

Tears warp the world until I blink them free. “What did you do?!”

“I called them. Told them you were quitting. They’ll send your last check to the sorority. I gave them the⁠—“

I lunge out of the car and shove his chest with all my might. He steps back, holding up his hands, taking another deep breath like he’s trying to keep his cool.