Page 71 of Broken by my Bully

Because when he pressed that book against my chest, his fingers lingered as if he was imagining pressing me against something else?

Because he’s so fucking gorgeous that all I can think about when I’m with him is what it would feel like to have those strong hands spreading my thighs?

Because I’m nineteen and stupid and broken…and heknowsit?

I take my phone out again, stare at the message.

Hesitate.

I should apologize. He went out of his way for me today, and I acted like a total brat.

I spend minutes agonizing about what I should say before finally typing out a message. Then another. And another.

@bastian.rooke

Thank you for your submission.

@lee.haven

Sorry for being difficult today.

Thx for the book.

And thx for the cocoa.

Not used to stuff like that.

I pause, because I’m not sure if I’m referring to his kindness or the alcohol. But I leave it as is, and type another two messages.

Promise I won’t put up such a fight next time.

If there is a next time?

I nearly delete the last message, but then Melissa walks back into the room with a tray and I tap send before I pussy out.

“We’ll sit on the floor. I don’t want ants in the bed.”

“Uh, yeah, sure.”

“Grab those cushions.” She points with her chin as she squats to set the tray down on the patterned rug. I grab two scatter cushions from her bed and hand her one as I come to sit in front of her.

There’s a can of orange soda, a can of diet cola, and three bowls of snacks on the tray. Oreos, pretzels, and popcorn.

“Thanks,” I say, grabbing an Oreo before I can second-guess myself.

“Right. Let’s see what fresh hell our dark daddy has cooked up for us.”

I giggle at that, and she flashes another one of her micro-smiles as she fetches her envelope out of her laptop bag. Must be university stationery because there’s a small AHC logo stamped near one corner.

“Oh, I got one too.”

She waves a hand. “Probably the same.” Then her eyes go wide. “But we’ll check after. Because Rooke, right? Fuuuck.” She draws out the word into a groan.

I frown at her. “Okay, what am I missing?”

She shrugs as she tears open her envelope, dropping her voice low. “That he’s fucked in the head, but so smart and good looking, no one cares?”

I laugh, but the sound is uneasy.