Page 29 of The Rowdy Ones

“I already have. Forgive yourself, Rowdy. For me.”

Never.

“I’ll try,” I lie.

We both grow quiet as I finish up one foot and move on to the other. So many blisters on her tiny feet. It makes me want to carve matching ones into Weston’s feet. Of all the things he could take her to do, did he need to do the one that makes her bleed?

“I’m happy right now,” she says, smiling. “The clinic, Weston and Gwen, dating. It’s all so exciting. I needed this.”

I don’t want to stop caring for her, but her feet are all bandaged up.

“I’m happy you’re happy.” It’s true. Seeing her smile is better than seeing her cry. “I’m sorry I keep acting like an asshole around him.”

She absently reaches out, touching my head. Her fingers dance down the side until she’s cupping my cheek. “It’s not just you. Aunt Eve nearly murdered him in the grocery store.”

I close my eyes, leaning into her sweet, gentle touch. “I don’t feel so bad then.”

“He knows Wild. They go to college together but aren’t friends for some reason.”

Knowing Wild, he tried to fuck him. I’m definitely going to ask him about it later.

“This guy’s really good to you?”

“He really is.”

“And the kiss…”

She bites on her bottom lip, drawing my attention there. I was right. Her mouth is supple. More than Lila’s and a lot more alluring that Maxton’s. I’m sick, though, for thinking it’s sexy.

Dez is my sister.

And she likes this Weston guy.

What am I doing right now?

Her foot is in my hands and her hand is on my face. I’m kneeling before her as though I’m begging for attention. I was supposed to apologize for a drunken, stupid night where I didn’t know what I was doing.

But I am completely sober right now, aching for her touch and staring at her pretty mouth.

“The kiss,” I say again roughly. “You liked it?”

“It was nice.”

Kisses with Evan were never “nice.” They were hot and passionate and desperate. But we were also explosive in the worst possible way. Maybe Weston is good for her because he’s a gentle man who treats her like a princess.

I hate to admit it, but this guy could be good for her. Nice. Destiny needs nice.

Her phone rings on the bed beside her, announcing Weston’s name to her. A smile tugs at her lips. “I should take this.”

My heart thuds heavily in my chest. I’m being pushed away so she can talk to the man who calls her “baby.” This is a good thing. What she wants and needs.

“Yeah, okay.” I rise to my feet. “Maybe we can hang out tomorrow or something.”

“Sure.” She answers the phone, grinning. “Hold on. Let me grab my earbuds.”

Like a sick voyeur fuck, I watch as she crawls over to her nightstand where they’re plugged in. When I get a flash of her naked thighs, I force my eyes away from them, ignoring the hot pulsing in my jeans. She pops the earbuds in and starts whispering to him. I shamelessly stare at her as she wiggles under the blanket.

What is my problem?