Page 156 of Unleashed

“Simone?” She whirls around to see some blonde guy in a black gown smiling at her.

“Trent. Hi.” Simone hugs him with one arm and his hand rests on the aqua lace covering her lower back. Jealousy boils my blood, which only infuriates me more because I’m not a jealous prick like Wilder. Not even close. Still, I don’t like other men touching her. I know that doesn’t support my argument of not being possessive. But I’ve never felt that way with Tansy or Hadley. I knew where Hadley’s heart belonged. She was never mine.

But neither is Simone.

I squeeze my hands into fists, but don’t realize it until my fingers scream. Simone moves out of his hold and talks to this collegiate douchebag. Did she fuck him? My sexual experience is limited, but hers isn’t. Still, the more I’m with Simone, the more her presence in my mere existence is goddamn problematic.

Unable to stay out of the picture, I approach Simone and put my arm around her waist. Her body tenses and she stammers, “H-hey. Trent Hodges, this is...”

“Greg. The husband.” I offer my hand to be nice but couldn’t care less about who the fuck he is. Maybe I’m the douchebag, but whatever.

Simone laughs, but it’s her nervous kind, and she shivers against me. She strokes my light beard covering my chin and purrs, “Sometimes, you’re so damn irresistible.”

I shrug and see Trent kind of crestfallen, and I say, “Newlyweds. Joined at the hip and all that.”

The guy nods with a fake smile. “Yeah. That’s what I hear. Well, good luck, Simone. I’ll see you around the complex. You too, Greg.” He seems nice enough, but I hate how he looks at her.

When Trent goes up the stairs where the other graduates are heading, Simone turns toward me. “What was that? You only have to pretend around my father.”

“I thought you needed me.” As much as I... Nothing.

Simone rearranges her gown draped over her arm and checks on her hat and tassel. “You don’t have to pretend for much longer.”

“However long you need me, I’m here.”

Her blue eyes widen, but they veer from my face. “There’s Mom and Jack.” Simone waves and ditches me to hug her mother and stepfather. I don’t know what to do, so I stay back, but Julie sees me and covers her mouth before hissing something at Simone. How awkward.

Simone waves me over, and I scratch my jaw as I walk. When I’m next to Simone, she says, “Greg, this is my stepdad, Jack.”

Jack extends his hand. “Nice to meet you, Greg. I’ve heard plenty about you.” He sort of looks like a lumberjack, nothing like Dr. Dillhole.

I smile and shake his hand. “Not all of it’s true.”

Julie grabs my shoulders and hugs me. “Sweet Greg. How are you?”

I hug her and then return to Simone. “I’m doing okay. How about you?”

She waves her hand as if dismissing my question. “I’m taking you and Simone out for an early dinner afterward. I need answers.”

Simone sighs. “Mom, I told you already.”

Julie argues, “I want Greg’s side.” Son of a fuck. Well, Greg doesn’t want to tell his side.

“There’s nothing to tell,” I mutter. Simone surprises me by weaving our fingers together. I surprise myself by gripping her hand.

Jack asks, “Are you two dating?”

I clear my throat, hoping Simone fields this, but since she doesn’t respond, I say, “No. We never dated.”

Jack nods. “Just got married. Makes sense.”

Julie touches Jack’s arm. “Jack, you’re worried about Simone, but she seems okay.”

Simone says, “I’m fine, Jackie. Greg and I are still friends.”

Jack and Julie look at our hands. I don’t know. I feel better being near Simone today. Maybe after what went down with Tansy last night or seeing Simone with another man, I want to be close to her. Plus, she knows my past and won’t hassle me about it.

Jack crosses his arms. He seems ready to gut me like a fish if I hurt his baby. Her real father only cares about money. “Beau said you had a nice time last night at Wendy’s. I’m glad you got to catch up.” What the hell? Beau? Her stepbrother? The guy I wanted to toss through a window? Not because it bothered me she had a date, or so I thought. He looked like he was being a prick. That’s all.

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