Page 56 of Mr. Wicked

“I’m not an asshole, Jovana; I just don’t take any bullshit. I have zero patience. For this, for you—for anything. This isn’t what I want, so it’s making me even wickeder than normal. You know this. Therefore there’s no reason for you to act surprised.”

“Oh, I’m not surprised. I’m just letting you know, you’re a fucking asshole.”

I smiled. Shit, it felt good. “Feel better now?”

“I won’t feel better until the divorce papers are signed.”

“Baby, that makes two of us.”

As my reply hit her, I watched the top of her chest. Instead of rising and falling, there was no movement.

“Someone likes being called baby.”

“Dick,” she shot back.

I chuckled, waiting for more, but she was silent for a few moments, fidgeting in her seat, her legs uncrossing and recrossing before she said, “I got straight As in high school and was hoping to get an academic scholarship but didn’t, so I graduated college with more debt than I can even stomach. I’m completely obsessed with music—I don’t listen to a specific genre, I just love it all. The lyrics affect me emotionally, and the beats inspire me in the most creative ways. Lastly, since I know you’re on the verge of snoring, I’m an only child, and with that comes a heavy burden. All I want to do is earn enough that I can get my parents out of the horrible, run-down apartment they’re in, a place they’ve lived in for far too long, and be able to make their lives a little easier because, God knows, they’ve done nothing but struggle.”

I understood her reasoning.

More than I even wanted to admit.

“That’s certainly motivation,” I told her.

“My parents deserve everything and more, and I want to be able to give it to them.”

“What’s the other reason?” When I didn’t get an immediate answer, I looked at her. “What? Are you realizing that talking about yourself isn’t as easy as you thought?” I huffed out some air and gazed through the windshield.

“It’s not tough at all, Grayson. I just don’t know how vulnerable I want to be with you.”

“Fair.”

More silence ticked until I heard, “The kids in my high school were mean. I’m talking downright cruel. I didn’t have stylish clothes. I couldn’t afford highlights in my hair. I wasn’t one of the cool ones—far from it. I was picked on relentlessly and made fun of, and even though I had the brains and was smarter than all of them, no one thought I would amount to anything.”

“What does that have to do with your success?”

“Everything.” She faced me. “Do you know how satisfying it is to look in my Stories and see that girls from my class are viewing them? That when they get together and gossip, they’re talking about the brand deals I’ve scored and the reach I have now, and my followers that are growing on the daily? I’m proving them wrong, and it feels fabulous.”

“Why do you care what they think?”

“Why?” She let out a long exhale. “Because I’m sensitive. Because my heart aches when I think about the things they said and did to me, and it feels good to be able to show them exactly who I am now.”

“The only person you have to prove anything to is yourself. What they think, what they say, what they did to you—that shit is insignificant.”

“I get what you’re saying. I really do. I just want the ones who dismissed me as unworthy to see me for who I really am.”

“You’re worthy, Jovana. Trust me. I see it in everything that you do, so I promise you they see it too. Whether they admit how powerful and incredible you are—that’s a different story.”

My comment left my lips before I had a chance to really think about it.

To process the impact of that compliment.

Silence ticked before she said, “That’s the best thing you’ve said to me since we’ve met, thank you,” in the softest voice.

I pulled up in front of the restaurant, leaving the car running for the valet attendant. “I wonder what those bitches are going to say when they find out you’re marrying me.”

“I’m sure they’ll smile extra hard when I announce our breakup.” She rolled her eyes and got out of the car before the valet attendant even had a chance to open her door.

I slid out as well and joined her on the sidewalk, my hand immediately going to her lower back as I walked her into the restaurant.

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