Page 66 of Pretend You Love Me

“What the hell are you doing, Ginger?” I growl in her ear.

As soon as she hears my voice, she starts to struggle and thrash.

“No way in hell I’m letting you go into that shithole,” I say. I’m dragging her backwards away from the house, and then she bites me. She fucking bites my hand.

“Ouch,” I yelp as I release her.

She whips around and shoves me.

“Serves you right, you ridiculous butthead.”

Butthead.There she goes again. It’s hard to take her seriously except she bit me pretty hard.

I’m shaking my hand.

“You bit me,” I hiss.

“You deserved it,” she growls.

I take her arm and start to drag her away from the house.

“No.” She digs in her heels.

“Ginger, don’t be so difficult.”

“Kip, this is none of your business. I can’t believe you followed me. Let me go.”

“Fuck this,” I say as I lunge forward and pick her up before she can even fight me. I throw her over my shoulder, ass straight up in the air. I stomp back toward the car.

“Put me down, you stupid, grumpy caveman,” she says.

“Not a chance, cupcake.” I storm over to my truck and drop her down in front of it. She actually tries to lunge past me, but I block her path and wrap my arms around her.

“Don’t you ever give up?” She’s stronger than she looks, considering her size and the fact that she has a broken arm.

“No,” she says, wrestling me. I’m much bigger and stronger, but I’m impressed with how hard she’s fighting.

“Stop it,” I say. “You are not going into that house.”

“I have to, Kip.” She stops fighting and starts crying.

Oh, fuck me.I much preferred the fighting.

“Ginger, just tell me what’s in the house so I can help you.” I say.

“I can’t, Kip. I can’t.” Her bottom lip is quivering. She looks up at me with those big, watery eyes.

My anger dissolves for a moment. It’s impossible for me to stay angry with her while staring into those eyes. I pull her into my body and wrap my arms around her.

“I just want to help,” I say.

“I need to do this alone.” Her body is shaking.

“Why?”

“I just do.”

I take a deep breath and then step back from her. “I’m going first.”