Page 96 of Puck My Life

“Stop, we’re here. You want the shiny thing. Let me do this for you to make up for being a dick and making you cry.”

“Who said I cried?”

Mal turns and cups my cheek. “You have the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever known. Of course, I made you cry, probably every day. So, let me make this up to you.”

He lets go and takes my hand, dragging me deeper into the store. It still feels wrong, but he’s so happy and comfortable that it’s hard to remember that I don’t belong.

Deacon

PAST

Vae is dating.

Not one guy, but it’s been about ten. She goes out, meets these tossers, and comes home where I watch them put their grubby hands on her.

Sometimes they kiss her.

Most of the time, they don’t or she stops them.

But my blood boils every time I see these so-called dates of hers.

“Come on, baby, come back to bed.”

I shake off the annoying hand of Lilly. She’s clinging and starting to annoy me. Raynor is already fed up, which means she will soon be moved on.

I ignore her pawing at me, right until she reaches for my cock.

“Stop.”

She ignores me.

I grab her wrist and squeeze just enough to make sure she knows I’m serious.

“I said stop.”

“Fine. I’m going home.”

“Do that, and don’t come back.”

She huffs and stalks past Vae and her date sitting on the porch.

In the end, Vae gets up, hugs him, and he leaves.

“That didn’t go well, no goodnight kiss?”

She startles. “I didn’t realise you were watching.”

“Liar.”

We stare at each other until she slumps.

“He was more interested in knowing about you three. Don’t worry, he was the last one. I’m just going to focus on work.”

I’m pleased…but why do I feel so awful about how depressed she is? Why do I have an image of me kissing her?

I shake it off and go back to my bedroom, closing the door.

PRESENT