Page 195 of Scandalous Contract

“You mean the woman who drugged you and tried to kidnap you?” I asked.

Raz gave me a lopsided grin. “She's still mine, though.”

I groaned, rubbing my temples. “I wish Stefanie would kidnap me. Maybe I should just snatch her ass up.”

“No,” they all said in unison.

“That’s not the way,” Cas added.

I chuckled darkly. “That’s funny because each one of you kidnapped the woman you love at some point. Why can’t I do it?”

“Because it’s wrong,” Raz said. “Kidnapping is never the answer.”

Bryce nodded. “Let her come to you, bro. Let her realize you’re the best damn thing she ever had. Make her work to win you back.”

“I don’t want her to work for it,” I muttered, staring at my reflection in the glass. “I just want to give it to her. I’m easy as hell when it comes to her.”

“That’s the heartbreak talking,” Cas stated.

“No, that’s the truth. I need to see her. Tonight!”

“You’ve been drinking,” Cas reminded me. “If you show up at her door tonight, you’re bound to say something you regret.”

I exhaled and dropped my head to the bar counter. He was probably right. My phone dinged. I didn’t bother looking until it dinged again. And again. And again.Damn. What? I checked my phone.

It was social media notifications. I swiped it open. I had five notifications. All from Stefanie Adams. Stefanie liked five of my old posts. I stared at the screen like it was a hallucination.

“She liked my posts,” I whispered.

Bryce leaned over. “The woman who dumped you did?”

I nodded and showed them the screen. “I think this is my sign to kidnap her,” I told them.

“Noooo,” Cas said. “This is your sign that she still wants you. But don’t go to her.”

“Why not?” I asked, confused.

“Don’t do it,” Raz said firmly. “Stay the night in the hotel upstairs. Sober up. Think this through. You’ve already made your move. You showed her that you love her. Let her prove to you that she loves you.”

“This is proof,” I said, staring down at my phone.

“No,” Bryce said. “That’s a like on your post. You get those all the time. This is different. Stay here tonight and tomorrow, we’ll help you figure out what to do next. Okay?”

I didn’t fight it. Not because I agreed, but because I was too damn tired to argue anymore. The next morning, we met up for breakfast in the private lounge. I was clear-headed. Sober. And missing Stefanie like crazy.

“You can’t go running back just because she hit a like button,” Raz said, slicing into his steak and eggs. “You need to know she’s all in. If she lets you in again, there’s no turning back. No more breakups. No more space. That’s it. You must put your foot down. You’re hers. She’s yours. End of story.”

“Put my foot down,” I said, taking mental notes. “I’m hers, she’s mine,” I whispered.

Bryce nodded. “Make her show you she’s serious. You’re not some placeholder who's going to wait around for years on her. You’re the prize.”

“I’m the prize,” I muttered.

Cas added, “And don’t call her. Don’t text her. Don’t drive by her house. That’ll make you look weak. And you’re not weak.”

“I’m not weak,” I said.

I leaned back in my chair, staring at my black coffee, hating how much sense they all made. I just wanted to go to her. I was weak. I didn’t want to put my foot down. She was the prize, not me. But my cousins were all in committed relationships with women they loved, and I wasn’t. I’d take their advice for now.