Page 127 of Barbi and the Villain

“What is this?” I whisper.

“PomPom will need to nest when she goes into labor,” he explains. “I figured she would be more comfortable here. In pink.”

“You… You made this?” I swallow, emotions clogging my throat.

He nods.

“But why?”

He shrugs. “I just did.”

He balances from one foot to another in discomfort.

I leave his side and go closer to the dog house to inspect it. He’d made it a little bigger to fit both PomPom and BonBon, and inside there are two dog beds—both pink.

“Where did you get the materials for this?”

“From the village.”

“Pink cushions? How?”

He purses his lips.

“I traded in work for them.”

His words touch me and they shouldn’t.

I continue to examine the house. He built it with his own hands, that much is clear. The details are gorgeous, but as I plop myself on the ground in front of it, I note the engraved writing above the small entrance.

PomPom’s villa.

“You shouldn’t have,” I murmur, my eyes glued to this pink wonder that I have no doubt PomPom will absolutely love.

“Why?”

“I don’t like it when you’re nice to me, Nykander. In fact, I much prefer it when you’re an asshole.”

His brows gather together in confusion.

“But I thought you would like it.”

“Oh, I do like it. That is not the issue. But when you do things like this, I can’t hate you with as much vigor as before.”

“Then maybe… Don’t hate me?” The question is hopeful. An uncertain smile pulls at his lips.

I shake my head.

“I can’t do that. Because if I don’t hate you… If I don’t have reasons to keep my distance, then…”

“Then what, Barbi?”

“I’ll want to be close to you. But being close to you only hurts me, and I really don’t want to hurt anymore, Nykander.”

“I am sorry.” He sighs.

I give him a sad smile.

“Sorry doesn’t change our dynamic, does it?”

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