Page 77 of Shallow

“I’m tired of your threats and of you in general,” he adds, his tone edgier. “I’ve been at rock bottom before, and I can pick myself up again if I have to. Take your best shot, but swing hard, Taryn. Because once I get up, I’ll swingback.”

“I’ll make you regretthis.”

Breaking his stare, Cary offers her a deadly smile. “I’m counting onit.”

I’ve never been one to follow rules—especially when it comes to the rules concerning a recently destroyed relationship. So, as soon Taryn stomps off, I tap Cary on the shoulder. When he turns around, I pop out a hip and throw my hands out wide. “So…surprise.”

“Enjoy the show?” He crosses his arms over his chest and looks me up and down. It’s both flattering and unnerving. I feel like a gazelle on the open plain being watched by a pack ofcheetahs.

“Which one?” I say, trying to cut thetension.

“Take your pick. The race. The media circus. Taryn. You think I didn’t know you were here, Shiloh? You’re kind of hard toignore.”

“Why didn’t you sayanything?”

“And miss all this?” he says, mimicking my sweeping arm gesture. “Not on yourlife.”

It suddenly hits me that the crowd has thinned. Participants have left the field, teams have packed up, and the breakdown crews are dismantling the equipment. I’ve done what I wanted to avoid. I ruined his sister’sevent.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, my shoulders curling over mychest.

“For what?Taryn?”

I lower my head. “Hell no, I told you she’s not right foryou.”

Hooking a finger under my chin, he lifts it. “Then who is?You?”

Yes. A million times,yes.

I jerk my chin out of his hold. “That’s not what I meant. Stop twisting shit around. This is about thedonation.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’m not acceptingit.”

Not is a funny word.Not. Three letters. Insignificant, really. So insignificant that sometimes you think you hear it when you don’t. I’m sure Ididn’t.

“I’m sorry, I thought you said you’re not acceptingit.”

“Idid.”

I black out for a minute. That’s the only explanation for shoving Cary in the chest with both hands. “You just poked a stick at a rabid bear, Cary. Taryn’s going to come at you with both guns locked and loadednow.”

He remains remarkably stoic despite having just been assaulted by a half-crazed woman. “No.”

Did I say half-crazed? Yeah, that ship has sailed. Welcome aboard the crazycruise.

I shove him again. This time with enough force to move him back a few steps. “What the hell? You’ll take Taryn’s money but mine’s not goodenough?”

“Goddamn it, Shy, I don’t need your money,” he yells, his calm demeanor shattering. “Why would you do this, huh? Whynow?”

“I’m just trying to make thingsright.”

His eyes are a little wild as he grabs my hand. “You want to make things right? Come withme.”

Twenty-Five

Cary

Ihaveno clue what I’m doing because I’m acting on pure instinct. I’m furious. I’m shocked. I’m ashamed. But most of all, I’m tired of holding back. I want her. I need her. I’m gonna haveher.