Page 13

Cian

“So you see?” she demanded, waving her arms around while I wracked my brain for the night in question. Who the hell remembered a chance encounter from five years ago? I knew for a fact I wouldn’t have touched her sister because even back then I’d been more interested in keeping my team in line than picking up, but suddenly things were falling into place in a way I really didn’t enjoy. The disappearances every time we went out. The inexplicable frostiness despite my best attempts to be nice to her.

The fact that this realization came on the heels of an intense attraction I’d developed to who she was as a person fueled my own temper.

“What am I supposed to see, Blair? I’m sorry that you’ve had to put up with assholes in your past, but I’m not the guy you’re making me out to be.”

I shouldn’t have found it adorable the way she puffed herself up, her hair adding to the pissed off chipmunk look she was sporting. She had made an assumption about me that was really fucking wrong, and that alone seemed to be her reason for pushing me away.

“You’re just wasting time with me until someone better comes along. You know it, and I know it, so why don’t you save both of us some time and leave me the hell alone.” She stomped her sneaker to prove her point, but I was beyond done listening to the bullshit she was telling herself.

“Can you stop assuming you know what I’m thinking? If you want to know, ask me. Because I’m getting really fucking tired of being cast as the bad guy. I like you. I really do. I’m sorry if you don’t, but that’s on you.”

Her jaw dropped, fists balling at her sides, but it was my time to talk and she was damn well going to hear it.

“I bought into your company line for a long time. You’re ‘one of the boys’, ‘the bland girl’, but you know what? You're more than that. You're fucking gorgeous, you're funny, caring, and someone I really want to spend more time with. So I think it’s you who needs to decide. Are you ready to take a chance on someone? Or are you going to stay behind those walls of self-hatred and let your fucking mother win.”

Shit. Why the hell did I bring up her mother? You never get in the way of family feuds.

“I think you need to go.” Her body deflated so fast, I had to hold myself in place to keep from trying to catch her wilted body. I’d spent so much of the morning being patient and kind with one hurt female, only to cast the final arrow at another.

Maybe I was the asshole she accused me of being.

With a tight nod, I forced myself back to the truck, which still idled in the parking lot, doors open and diesel fumes sweetening the air.

Don’t look at her. Don’t look at her .

Her face was ruined. Features cast in a sallow light, as though I’d pulled her spirit out with my words.

Did I regret them? No. But perhaps it would have been more productive coming from Mia… or a licensed professional. If we were closer to Chicago, I could recommend my cousin’s wife but…

I cut off the mental detour and buckled my belt. I’d caused her enough stress for one day. Time to go home and come up with a new plan of action to win her over.

If it was still possible.

Thirteen minutes and forty-two seconds later, I let myself into Mia and Oscar’s house and interrupted their dinner.

“You didn’t say that,” Mia chided as I dropped my head to the table and Oscar placed an open beer next to me.

“I did. I don’t know why… I couldn’t stop the words. Will you scratch my head again?”

A much larger than expected palm landed on my head.

“Her head scratches are for me only.”

I snorted. “Okay, Caveman.”

I didn’t care who did it; I just needed some form of physical affection while I royally blew up my life. Oscar moved his hand over my head a few times before there was a sigh and a much smaller hand took its place.

“Thank you for your pity,” I mumbled into the table, resisting the urge to purr under Mia’s blunt nails.

“So what’s your next move? Are you finally leaving her alone? Or going all out stalker?” Oscar asked, his chair squeaking as he settled back.

“I’m pretty sure I can find a happy medium between those two options, but I need help. You’re not helping me.”

“I don’t know if there’s anything to do right now,” Mia said gently, keeping up the stroking like it would soften her delivery. “It sounds like Blair has some work to do, and while you’ve done a good job of bringing her awareness to it—” Oscar snorted. “While you’ve done a good job bringing her awareness to it, it’s up to her to decide whether she is ready to work through it or not. You can’t do it for her.”

My friends were the worst helpers in the history of the world.

“So you’re saying to give up on her?”

“I’m saying that she has to do some work on herself. That doesn’t mean you give up on her, but it does mean you give her space. In the meantime, maybe I could have a word with her. See if she needs a friendly ear.”

My friends were the best helpers in the world.

“Yes. Please. Talk to her. You can tell her I’m a good guy and fix everything.”

Mia held up her hands like she was at gunpoint. “I’m not making any promises.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you. Oscar, kiss your wife for me.”

“I’ll kiss her for myself,” he growled as he skirted the table and pulled her into an inappropriate kiss.

“Y’know, if I wasn’t used to it, this could be really uncomfortable right now,” I muttered, finally feeling settled enough to swig my beer.

“Weren’t you leaving?” Oscar asked as his hands roamed down Mia’s back, cupping her ass possessively.

“Yup, definitely. Thank you, Mia, for the offer. I wholeheartedly accept. For the love of God, wait until you hear the front door close before you start stripping off. See you later.”

I wasted no time vacating my best friend’s house, and still caught the first moan as I slammed the door firmly behind me.

I was going to find a stuffed pigeon and leave it in his locker for that.

But maybe after Mia helped with my love life…