Page 93 of Pretty Vengeance

“Not to you.” Sucking the stout from my lower lip for a moment, I shrug. “But on occasion, to those who deserve it, yes.”

“Did my brother deserve it?”

I close her right hand in both of mine. “There are things I want to tell you.” Raising her hand to my mouth, I drag her skin over my lower lip. It’s a kiss. Of sorts. “I need a promise from you first, Sawyer.”

“What promise?”

“To be mine.”

“To be your what?”

“Everything.”

Her lips part in surprise, and we stare at each other for several beats. The way I want her in my life has shifted, and it’s time to stop fucking about.

“Here’s the thing.” My thumb strokes hers. “I can’t stop thinking about us. Before we broke up, I’d started to imagine a future with you. One where we’d trust each other with secrets and protect each other from outsiders. One where we might not last the four years at GU because maybe we’d transfer and finish uni in Ireland.”

“Ireland?” The word pops out with a shocked breath.

“Why not? The island’s beautiful. People are nice. You’d love it.”

“Transferring to an Irish college, I couldn’t do that on a whim. We’d have to be in a serious relationship… I’d have to feel sure of us.”

“Agreed.”

The fact that she doesn’t balk outright speaks volumes. It’s in her eyes that she’s considering it. As she starts to tug on her hand, I tighten my grip. My pretty fish is on the line; I’ve no intention of letting her slip off.

“Listen, I know it’s fast,” I say. “But life got ahead of us. Things are happening, whether we want them to or not. So, as I see it, we either go our separate ways or we make the choice to ride out the storm together.”

“I’m not saying I wouldn’t want to try. I think about you constantly, too. But I barely know you. And there arereallybig unanswered questions.” Her brows rise, challenging me to deny it, which of course I can’t.

“Fair enough.” My eyes hold hers, trying to convey my sincerity. “There’s a story I’ll tell you, and afterward, you’ll know me. Then, you can decide.”

The waitress approaches and slides a piping hot pizza onto a wooden cutting board in the center of the table. “Need anything else?”

“Thanks, no. We’re good.” I flash a polite smile in the waitress’s direction. As she moves away, I slide a hand to the back of Sawyer’s head. “Give me a kiss, Cranberry Sauce. It’ll help me hold on.”

Sawyer’s got no idea what I’m working up to tell her, but she still gives me the sweetest kiss imaginable.

There’ll be no end to the way I pursue her now. She’s the one. God help her.

In a life with more than its share of darkness, I still can’t resist holding on to an innocent girl. One who’s got no business being caught up in the middle of a blood vendetta.

Feels as if it’s meant to be, though. As if Sawyer and I were destined to meet.Star-crossed lovers, I think grimly.

And, as I’ve seen many times, there’s no point trying to argue with fate.

43

SAWYER

After lunch, we head outside. Jamie takes my hand and tugs me toward an empty path along the river.

“Do you mind if we talk outside for a few minutes, Sauce?”

It’s cold and overcast, but I sense something from him that makes me say, “No, I don’t mind.”

He removes his scarf and wraps it around my neck before zipping my coat up to my chin. Then, he raises my hood, effectively bundling me up like a child. My heartbeat stutters at the gesture. The way he’s trying to protect me from the cold, at his own expense, can’t fail to matter. Jamie takes my hand and puts it in his pocket with his own, tying us together.