Page 55 of Knot Her Reality

Turning to her, I take her hands in mine. “Hey, don’t worry about that. I may not know what all went down, but Tessa promised she would talk to me about it when she was ready. That’s the most important thing. If she wasn’t willing to talk about it or tried to hide that it happened, then I might be upset. I’m a firm believer in second chances, and it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t extend that to her, you know what I mean?”

“Yeah.” She looks like she wants to say more, but a knock on the door cuts her off. “It looks like your suitors have arrived for your date.”

“Perfect timing.” At Bree’s lost look, I lean over to hug her. “Don’t worry about it, Bree. I’ll make sure no one else gives her shit, and if I’m honest, I’m really excited that she’s one of my suitors.”

A smile finds its way onto her face. “Yeah?”

“Oh, yeah. She’s sexy as hell and smells so good.”

“Okay. Okay. That’s enough.” Bree laughs as another knock sounds. “Better hurry up. It sounds like they’re getting impatient.”

Leaving Bree in my room, I head for the door and throw it open. Bradley, Evander, and Tessa stand there with grins on their faces. I return their smiles but glance around, looking for Sterling.

Tessa rolls her eyes, gesturing behind them. “He’s in the entryway. I don’t think he likes me much.”

“His loss,” Evander says with a grin.

That makes me smile, as I agree. “He’s right. And if he’s going to be an asshole, then that’s how I’m going to treat him. He better watch out.”

Tessa’s smile lights up her face, hearing not just me but Evander defending her.

“I don’t know if my opinion is as important,” Bradley says, voice timid as he glances between all of us before dropping his gaze to the floor. “But I agree. You’re awesome, and he’s kind of an ass.”

Laughter bursts from me at his words, partially in surprise. “I didn’t expect that to come out of your mouth.”

He shrugs. “I might be shy, but I won’t stand for someone being an asshole just to be an asshole.”

“You know I can hear the four of you, right?” Sterling’s voice filters through the entryway to us, and I scoff.

Marching past the suitors in front of my door, I march straight up to the alphahole with hands on my hips. “I don’t know about the others, but I wasn’t trying to hide my words from you. This is your one warning. I don’t like assholes. You don’t have to like the other suitors, but you do have to be respectful. If you can’t be, then you won’t stand a chance with me, and you’ll find yourself packing your bags real quick.”

It’s his turn to scoff. “I don’t give a shit about Tessa or whatever baggage she comes with. I’m only out here because I’m ready to get going.”

“So you didn’t say anything rude to her at all?”

He frowns, his eye twitching before he sighs. “I might have made a remark in passing.”

“At least you admitted to it, but I won’t put up with them. If I catch you saying something again, you’ll be on your way out the door tonight. Got it?”

“Yeah, I got it. Damn. I think I’ll go wait by the SUV.” Without another word, he throws the front door open and slams it behind him.

I sigh, shoulders slumping. “So much for another date with no drama.”

“I’m sorry, Evangeline. This is my fault.” Tessa’s voice is quiet as she comes to stand next to me. “I’ll stay here if you want me to.”

Turning to her, I narrow my eyes. “Do you not want to go on a date with me?”

“Of course I do,” she protests, eyebrows shooting up. “What would make you think I didn’t want to?”

“You did just offer to stay at the compound instead of going on a date with me,” I remind her.

“Just so there wouldn’t be drama.”

I shake my head. “Fuck that. If anyone stays here, it’ll be the person causing the drama. But I’m not even going to make him do that. Now, come on. I’m excited about today’s date, and we’ll be late if we don’t leave now.”

The four of us hurry out of the house. Sterling is nowhere to be seen, so I’m assuming he’s in the SUV. “Morning, Lucas!”

“Good morning, Evangeline. Mike’s with us again today. When he found out the plan for the day, he begged me to let him come.”

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