Page 151 of Brutal Savage

But I can’t keep hiding from him. I want to go back to teaching, to living my life. I want to go visit my grandpa.

I’ve begged Grandma to come stay with me and Tynan in the meantime, but she refuses, wanting her independence. I don’t fault her for that. It’s what I want too.

Tomorrow, I’m finally going back to work, and I’ll get to see Grandpa after I’m done. He may not know who I am, but I know him, and I miss him terribly.

Things with Tynan have been good. Fun, in fact. Every day, it gets harder to remember why I’m not supposed to want this. He’s a good man, and I can see how easy it would be to fall head over heels for him. And some days, it feels as though I’m already there. Yet at the end of the day, this marriage isn’t real.

When I get married, I want it to be my choice. And I want the man I marry to actually love me.

“Are you ready to do some damage?” Iseult throws her arm around my shoulders, moving toward a rack of clothes.

I like her. She’s got an edge. Definitely don’t want to be the one to ever piss her off, though.

“I guess.”

She picks up some red leather pants while I examine a green pencil dress, the shade reminding me of Tynan’s eyes, and I instantly know I want it. It has a faux belt and a deep V-neck. But when I look at the price tag…

“Oh my God.”

Iseult appears beside me. “We’re getting that one.”

“It’s ten thousand dollars, Iz!”

“So?”

“I can’t keep buying things that cost this much! It’s crazy!”

“Hello! My brother is loaded, and now so are you.” She smirks. “And I promised Tynan you’d shop your heart out, so shop. Or else I’ll have to call him and tell him how difficult you’re being,” she teases with a quirk of her brow.

I know she’s right, that this is our money now, but it still feels weird to me.

We continue shopping, both of us trying things on and showing them to the other. I’m forcing myself to ignore all the price tags, even though it’s quite difficult.

Iseult picks up a black-and-gold embroidered one-piece swimsuit with the center cut open.

“This would look amazing on you.” She hands it to the sales associate. “She’s going to try this on.”

As I attempt to pick up the price tag, she swats my hand away.

“I’m gonna have them rip off all the tags if you don’t stop.”

“Okay, just for my curiosity, can you just tell me what it costs?”

“Fine.” She huffs. “Thirty-three hundred. Now, can we find more things to try on?”

My eyes fly open. “Jesus, for a scrap of material?”

She shakes her head, treading toward the men’s section. “Oh my God.” She holds out a canary-yellow suit. “Can you imagine Tynan ever wearing this?”

I break out in a fit of laughter. Picturing that man, who only wears neutral colors, wearing something like this is comical. It’s like Big Bird and Tweety Bird had a baby.

“He’d die before he’d ever wear this,” she says. “You should buy it for him.”

“Pretty sure he wouldn’t appreciate that.”

“I know. That’s why you should do it.” Her wicked grin is deadly.

“Oh, you’re bad.” I examine the suit, unable to hide my own smile. “You know, maybe you’re right. He has been telling me to spend money. Maybe it’s time I really did.”

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