Page 82 of Puck My Life

“I really like him, Deacon. He will be good for me.”

What? No!

Is she really saying this to me right now? The urge to start howling and screaming rises, but I swallow it down.

“You’d really want to be with him?”

She doesn’t meet my eyes. She’s lying. But why? It’s this damn secret she’s keeping. It’s changing everything.

“I would want to try with him.”

My heart cracks my chest open, and, I swear, it falls to bleed and break at her feet. I could never love someone romantically the way I love Vae.

“Okay.”

Her mouth drops open. “Are you serious? You’d be okay with it?”

I shrug, trying not to show how completely devastated I am. “Sure. If it’s going to make you happy, I will step aside and let the alpha court you.” I will do absolutely nothing of the sort.

She winces.

I frown. “This is dating, right?”

“Yeah, I mean, yes.”

I like that she doesn’t look sure.

Mal

PAST

“VAE! Oh, Vae, please, I’m screwed. I’m fucked. Help me, Vae.”

She ignores my frantic calls as I get louder. No doubt, she knows I’m searching for her room by room. It’s become a bit of a game.

I slam into the kitchen, throwing myself up against her back. Plastered against her. My warmth, my home, my safe place.

I close my eyes at the feel of this sweet torture. It feels so good and hurts so bad.

“What’s wrong?” Vae asks as she strokes my forearm.

“I forgot to go and get the thingies off the list.”

“The thingies being the items the coach specifically gave you a list to buy?”

“Yeah.”

She sighs and pushes my arms off her. She bends and pulls out a bag hidden in the kitchen cupboard, where I would never think to look.

“I went and got it for you.”

I lean in quickly just as she turns, and my lips collide with hers. I still, unable to move. My mind, my heart, my breathing, it all just stops.

Her lips are softer than I imagined.

I lean into her for a whole second before I remember who I’m kissing. I jump back as if I’ve been burned.

“Shit, sorry, Vae. I am really sorry. Don’t hate me.”