Page 12 of Twisted Ties

“Again, me too!” I say.

“Did he know?” she says, frowning.

“Yep, seems so.”

“But he didn’t tell you?”

“Nope.”

“But there are signs, aren’t there?”

“Yes, if you know what they are. I guess I just thought that’s what a crush felt like. I didn’t know it was more than that. And now …” I shake my head, feeling tears pooling in the corners of my eyes. “I don’t know anything, Winnie. I don’t know what this means, how it works. I’m clueless and,” perhaps my best friend is the only person I’d ever admit this to, “scared.”

“Oh, sweetie,” Winnie says, lunging across the bed to wrap me in another hug despite Pip’s protests.

I sob onto her shoulder and as I do the door flies open.

“What’s wrong?” the man in black says, his voice full of concern.

“What’s wrong?” I spit. “What’s wrong?”

“Are you hurt? Is it your leg?”

Winnie pulls away and spins around on the bed to face my mate. “No, it’s you, you lying toad.”

The man in black scowls at her, and oh my lord, that look would have most people quaking in their boots. However, my usually nervous friend takes it in her stride, waggling her finger at him as if the giant facing her is simply a naughty little school boy. “You lied to her.”

“I never lied.”

Winnie harrumphs. “You have some serious making up to do.”

“I know,” he says, meeting my eyes.

“But,” Winnie adds, “you did save her which I am very grateful for. Just know, this girl means a lot to me – she’s awesome and beautiful and smart and brave–”

“I know,” he says a second time, still staring into my eyes and making my body thrum with energy.

“And if you hurt her in any way, if you so much as makeher shed one tear, then I am coming for you Mr. … Mr. … Mr. Enforcer. I don’t care who you are.”

For the first time since this all happened, I feel a sense of relief and happiness hovering in my heart. I am so lucky to have Winnie; Winnie and Pip. I’m not alone in this. I know I’d do anything for this girl and it seems like she’d do anything for me.

“I understand,” Azlan says gravely.

“Right,” Winnie says, lowering her finger, her cheeks flushing beetroot. “So if you’d give us a little more privacy, please.”

The man in black looks to me. “It isn’t hurting you too much?”

I shake my head and he steps out of the room.

Winnie lets out a long puff of air. “Ahh Rhi, the man may be an idiot, but he is also damn hot.”

“Yeah,” I say, my skin still tingling from that look of his. “I’m so confused.”

“I can help with that,” she says, jumping to her feet. “I’m going to the library and I’m going to check out every book ever written on fated mates, then we’re going to sit here together and stuff our heads full of information until we are the world’s two leading experts on the subject.”

I manage a laugh. “Actually, that does sound like a good idea.”

“Of course it does. I’m full of good ideas.”