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Lissa pulls away, looking me hard in the eyes. “Well?”
Letting out a breath, I say, “Because he feels like coming home. He’s infuriating, but he’s comforting. We were so good together before he broke up with me.”
She gives my arm a squeeze. “Well, those aren’t terrible reasons. Just be careful, okay? There’s nothing wrong with keeping your guard up until you’re sure you can trust him.”
I nod, blinking back my tears.
I just don’t know if I can.
MY SHIFT DRAGS on, and when 4 o’clock finally hits, I’m ready to get home. We’ve been short-staffed, and while I don’t mind the overtime, eleven hour shifts are the worst.
I wave goodbye to Lissa before heading out. I’ll get home faster if I walk, but taking the bus means I can get off my aching feet.
I turn to head for the bus stop but freeze when I see Alexander leaning against his car. I completely forgot he said he’d pick me up.
The anger I felt this morning rises in my chest. But he pushes off the car, planting a kiss on my cheek and taking my bag. When he opens the passenger door, I glare at him.
“You don’t own me,” I snap. “What you did this morning? That was fucked up. You don’t need to get under Brent’s skin like that.”
Alexander’s lips quirk up in a devilish smile. “I told you. I hate any man who looks at you for longer than he has to.”
“Well, keep it bottled up.” I shove at his chest, but he catches my wrists, holding them so my hands are pressed to his chest. “If you’re going to be an ass, this whole thing is off.”
He leans down, saying lowly in my ear, “We can do this the easy way, little bird. Or you can make this harder on both of us.”
I let out a huff, but when he opens the passenger side door, I slide in.
When he’s settled in the driver’s seat, he gives me a quick glance before saying, “Have you eaten today?”
I close my eyes, too pissed and tired to meet his gaze. We were so busy today that we barely got a break. All I’ve had today was a little snack around one.
“Sort of.” But my traitorous stomach growls at the mere thought of eating a meal.
“You need food.” His voice is stern as he pulls out of his parking spot.
I don’t argue, just keeping my eyes closed in silence. I’m too exhausted to even look at him.
We drive for a while, the warmth of the sun shining through the windows lulling me into a light sleep. But a stop at a red light pulls me back into consciousness.
I turn my head to look at Alexander. His hands are both on the steering wheel, his gaze locked on the car in front of us. His jaw is tense, but not in the way that indicates he’s upset. This is just his normal level of tension.
The way he’d held me still, telling me we could do this his way or the hard way, floats through my memory. I hate that he has almost all the upper ground.
“You don’t own me,” I mumble sleepily.
He chuckles, giving me a quick glance as the car in front of us moves.
“I mean it.” I adjust myself so I’m facing him more, but my eyelids are threatening to close again. “Brent is a nice guy. I was going to ask him out before you crashed back into my life.”
“I’m so sorry,” he says with obvious sarcasm. His grip on the steering wheel is tighter, and he works his jaw. Now he’s pissed.
“Look, I’m giving you a chance. But that doesn’t mean you get to just fuck up my life because some guy makes you jealous. I like him. And I don’t know what’s going to happen between us. So leave him alone.”
“I’ve already told you. I’m not losing you again, Sophia.”
“That’s what you want. But I don’t trust you, Alexander, and you can’t expect me to.”
His nostrils flare, but he stays quiet, brooding. Because he knows I’m right. I have no reason to blindly give him my trust—he practically admitted it last night.
