Page 19 of Rejected Plus-Size Mate

“Leslie?” I call out as I open the door. I’m full of high anxiety, mixed with breathless excitement. I can’t wait to see her again, but I’m terrified by the idea of trying to talk to her.

Since I got back, we haven’t had one positive interaction.

I look through the house, checking every room and calling her name. As I realize the place is empty, a chill of fear settles into my chest.

They should have been back by now.

My head starts filling with a multitude of worst-case scenarios. I know it’s unlikely that anything has happened to her, but the problem is, it’s not impossible. I’ve learned firsthand that the most terrible things can and do happen.

In the space of five minutes, an entire life can be shattered beyond repair.

My experiences with the Sawpit Pack have also left me pretty shaken. They are bad guys, and they want the resources the Silver Meadows Pack controls. They could be moving in on us, right now.

They’ve done it before. No one is safe.

I grab my phone, about to call Bailey, Jack, everyone and anyone I can find. Before I can blow up everyone’s phones, I take a deep breath and blink hard.

I send Bae a text, asking if he’s seen Gina and if Leslie is with her. Even though my heart is still fluttering around with nerves, I leave it at that and head out to Shelley’s. If the girls are fine, it’s a good place to wait. If they aren’t, it’s the perfect place to meet the others.

By the time I get to Shelley’s, Bae has texted me that Gina is out with the girls still. As I walk through the doors, I’m about to text him back, but then I see Leslie standing by the bar.

A wave of relief floods me, so powerful that my knees feel weak. I can’t believe she’s safe, and I don’t care what our issues are or how she feels. I have to wrap my arms around her and hold her, even just for a second.

I’m hurrying through the tables, my eyes fixed on my wife, when I see her eyes light up and a big smile break across her face. She giggles and bashfully brushes back a strand of hair from her face.

What the actual fuck?

There’s a guy flirting with my girl. With my wife.

As I approach from behind her, the guy sees me and pales a bit. He’s backing off before Leslie even knows I’m there. When she turns around, her eyes are wide. I can’t tell if she’s happy to see me or not.

“Kyle, what the fuck?”

“Don’t,” my voice comes out in a low rush. “Don’t you dare. Were you—were you actually flirting with that guy? Do you like him?”

“Kyle—”

“Answer the question!” There’s no space between my brain and my mouth. Everything I think is coming straight out with no filter.

“There’s nothing to say! I just—”

“Just what?”

“Whoa, big fella,” Gina says, joining the conversation. “Take it easy there. No one’s stepping on your territory.”

“I’ll decide that,” I snap, not looking at her. “I’m asking Leslie, not you.”

“If you’re asking me, then why don’t you listen to my answer?” Leslie shoots back. She puts one hand on her hip and turns all the way around, her long, light brown curls sweeping around like a gold curtain.

Fuck. What was I saying?

“Nothing was going on,” Leslie says, bringing me back into the moment. “He just said hi.”

“He was flirting with you.” My voice has turned into a full-on growl.

“But she wasn’t flirting back,” Lena says. “No way.”

I can hear Gina saying the same thing, but the sounds of the room are starting to fade around me. All I can see is Leslie, staring right at me, looking like the most beautiful thing in the world.

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