Page 95 of Wanted Beta

I draw him a look as I let his hair fall back to cover his injuries.

He doesn’t think for one minute that the guy who did that to his face is still hanging around.

If he did, he wouldn’t be so blasé about it.

Not while we’re still with Beth.

“Fine. As long as Beth doesn’t mind.”

She shoots me a guilty look. “I don’t mind.”

“I’ll walk ahead of you,” I tell them, before I make a start homeward bound.

Chapter Forty

Beth

Idon’t think this night could get any more complicated even if Rourke did show back up.

Instant guilt hits me when Gio walks on ahead, looking out for our safety.

The realization that I didn’t want to tell him about the whole mess with Marcus made me a little wary about what I should be saying, and now I’m nervous about revealing anything.

My wrists start to itch as I walk beside Jack.

I ignore the phantom feeling and try to come up with meaningless conversation to pass the time. Unfortunately, there’s one thing I can’t ignore, and that’s what my asshole ex did to his face.

“I’m sorry about what happened,” I blurt, knowing it needs to be said.

“What, this?” Jack scoffs. “I get into a fist fight at least once a night. It’s nothing.”

I raise an eyebrow at him. “Um, what?”

“Okay, okay. That was a lie. I was trying to sound tough, I guess. I’m fine, though. Really. I was more worried about you running away like you did.”

“Oh. I just … I was in shock. Seeing him again. I really didn’t want to see him, and I had no idea he would do something like that,” I confess. “He wasn’t … He was different when I knew him.”

“Different, how?” he asks.

“He was never a fighter. Not that he couldn’t stand up for himself, he was just never interested in starting something like that. He was …” I trail off, feeling a little lost.

I’m talking like I knew him.

I thought I did, but what he did to me …

That was more vicious than bruising my skin.

“He was manipulative,” I start again. “Mean with his words, not his fists.”

“Huh,” Jack murmurs. “I guess I must have riled him up then.”

“If you did, that’s on him.”

“I don’t know,” he jokes. “I can be kind of an asshole when I don’t like someone.”

“Well then I guess I’m glad you like me,” I joke back, feeling my face flush when I realize how much it sounds like I’m flirting.

Because I am.

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