Page 141 of Until I Own You

But she’s still wearing the collar. That has to mean something.

“God, why did I even come tonight?” I ask to no one in particular.

Jack shrugs, “I don’t know, dude. You were acting really strange the whole trip. And like the whole point was to try and go out and meet people, and he didn’t even try.”

“Did you even try?” I growl.

Jack balks. “You know I did. And succeeded.” He dips a straw into his old fashioned. “But she’s a Florida girl.”

I roll my eyes and start to look back at the dance floor but stop myself for fear I’m going to add to the suspicions that I am lusting after Abigail. “I’m not looking at Abigail, alright?” I look Nate dead in the eye. “I’ve never seen her that way, and you know it.”

“I mean, it’s cool man, you’re both adults,” Nate replies.

I gape at him. “I’m telling you the truth!”

“Okay!” Nate says, lifting his hands in defense. “I’m just saying if–”

“There’s no if!” I cry out over the music.

Mason touches Nate’s arm. “I think what Nate is trying to say is that we’d rather be told the truth than anyone sneaking around.”

I drop my face into my hands. “For god’s sake…”

“I totally agree. I’m just giving you shit. She’s my sister, so I obviously expect you to treat her well, but–” Jack starts.

“I’m not looking at Abigail, dude.”

“Okay, but you’re like really defensive right now, bro,” Mason says.

I slam my fist down on the table. “For the last fucking time, I’m not looking at Abigail!”

My friends stare at me wide-eyed. I know that didn’t do anything but make me look more defensive. Fucking great. Fucking fine.

Maybe I’ve said enough to get them to move on, but I know it will sit like a cloud over all of us the rest of the night, hell for weeks after. And who knows, maybe Jack will say something to Abigal and then she’ll say something to me, and god forbid Abigail actually wants anything to do with me and I have to let her down easy…

Fuck this. Fuck it all. I have had enough of everyone being on my ass about my singledom, about who I’m looking at. The most important person in my life has already accepted the truth, someone who should be more scared of it than anyone. Might as well tear off the fucking bandage and let the blood spill.

“I’m not looking at Abigail,” I say one more time as calm and composed as possible. “I’m looking at Bridget.”

Nate’s eyes bulge, and his lips start to form the first letter of her name.

“Like that.” A declaration. “I’m looking at Bridget like that.”

Like I want her. Like I need her.

Like she’s mine.

Because she is. She still wears the collar I gave her. That’s as good a sign as any.

She’s not ready to give us up.

I’m ready for a barrage of questions. Of clarifications.

Instead, though, Jack grabs my arm. His eyes are pinned to the dance floor. “Dude.”

I follow his gaze to the center of the dance floor where only a minute ago Bridget was throwing her body around, living her best life, the most delicious temptation I’d ever seen.

Now, she’s in the arms of another man.

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