Page 147 of Wanted Beta

It sure as hell feels like it’s my fault, but I don’t tell him that.

He knows. It’s why he’s trying to reassure me.

I tell him I’ll see him soon, and I hang up, watching as Beth goes into her apartment building before I turn around to go back home, feeling sick to my stomach.

It doesn’t matter what anyone says, I’m the one who made her walk away.

Chapter Sixty-Nine

Beth

The walk home passes in a blur. All I can think about is getting away from Jack, and the rest of those guys I’ve been crushing on for the past couple of days. I should have known they were trouble from the second I walked in on Enzo and Arrow.

I thought they were different from all the other guys out there.

They made me feel safe, and they made me feel wanted.

I haven’t felt that way in such a long time.

My chest gets tight thinking about Rourke. I loved him when we were together. Finding out none of that was real shattered my trust and broke my heart into a million pieces.

I can’t go through that all over again.

Especially not with four guys.

That might actually kill me.

I unzip the pocket on my purse outside the apartment door, fingers fishing for my key and not finding it.

"What the hell?" I'm sure I put it back after I used it this morning.

A cough from my right side makes me turn.

I find Rourke standing there at the top of the staircase, something small and shiny in his extended hand.

“You dropped this when you were heading out this morning,” he explains.

“So, you have been stalking me, then.”

“I wouldn’t call it that.”

“Yeah, well, that’s because you’re delusional.”

I take a step closer and snatch it from his fingers, pleasantly surprised when he doesn’t use it as an excuse to grab me. It’s the only nice surprise I’ve ever gotten from him.

“I’m not delusional. I’m in love.”

“Good for you, now get lost before I call the cops to haul you away.”

I move the key into my other hand so I can grab my phone out of my purse quickly.

“You need to stay away from that pack.”

I frown at him. “You don’t get to tell me what to do.”

He sighs. “They’re bad news, Beth. They’re not good enough for you.”

“What the hell is this, Rourke? Why are you here? We’ve got nothing left to say to each other.”

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