Page 125 of Barbi and the Villain

“What?”

He takes one more step. We’re now in front of each other, which does me little good since he’s even more good-looking than I remembered. But I will not let his godly tier looks rattle me. Not when I am in full vengeance mode.

“I apologize.” He brings a hand to my face, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

His eyes are on mine, and I am surprised to see his words are genuine.

“What are you saying?” I swallow.

“I am sorry for how I behaved. I should not have spoken to you in that way.” He takes a deep breath. “You did not deserve any of it, Barbi. It was my own frustration that got the best of me and I lashed out at you.”

“Did you just…” My lashes flutter in absolute shock. “You’re saying you were wrong? You’re taking accountability for your words and actions?”

He nods solemnly.

“Dear God, I truly must be in a fictional world,” I mutter to myself, which prompts him to frown in confusion.

“I am sorry if my words hurt you,” he repeats, his voice grave and unsure.

His entire countenance screams uncertainty for someone whose natural confidence oozes at any moment.

I tilt my head as I study him.

“You don’t apologize often, do you?”

He shakes his head.

“It is my first time.”

I stare at him, dumbfounded.

“First time since you escaped, or first time in your thirteen thousand whatever years?”

He mutters something under his breath.

“What?”

“First time in thirteen thousand years,” he eventually admits.

“That’s why you’re so bad at it.” I nod pensively.

He’s taken aback by my words.

“Whatever do you mean?” he demands.

“Well, first of all. It’s been weeks, Nykander. You don’t apologize now because it’s convenient. You apologize after you mess up and realize you hurt the other person.”

He glances away, looking thoroughly chastised.

“I did not realize how much I hurt you until weeks after,” he murmurs guiltily. “I have been…watching you. Trying to decipher you. But the more I learned, the more confused I became about how to approach you. And there was no manual for this at the village library.”

“You… You searched the library for a manual?” I ask, flabbergasted.

“I am not the best when it comes to feminine sensibilities. I did not want to mess it up even more than before.”

“Oh, wow.” My eyes widen. “So you decided avoiding me for almost a month was better?” I ask.

He sheepishly nods.

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