Page 26 of Bullied Pregnant Mate

Over the past few days, I could see how she jumped slightly when I entered a room or if something was loud. As smart as she was, she still constantly looked behind her back—the result of having to do it for years.

"We were all clearly wrong," I said.

She paused as she pulled a chip up to her mouth. Her eyes snapped to me, and she tilted her head. "You've said those words before."

"And they still stand. You have made a living for yourself, and you are thriving. I know plenty of people who thought they were talented but haven't done anything with their lives."

She shrugged, but I wanted her to understand. I pulled the chair out and took a seat. "Gina, your brother was a college dropout who lived at home."

"Even so," she popped the chip into her mouth. "He was the prized jewel."

"A piece of shit," I corrected. "He was no one. He was a drunk. He used and abused and got the death he deserved."

She swallowed. "Weren't you friends with him?"

I had been at one point before I realized how childish everyone was. I lived by the code that only the strong survive, but I was learning that strength comes from more than muscle. It was something I was still trying to learn.

"I was before we left high school. Your brother was a drunk who enjoyed watching people's pain. You weren't the only one he tortured."

"You did at one point," she countered. "You enjoyed watching my pain."

I scowled. "No, I correctly told people the truth. I didn't enjoy people's pain for the fun of it." I was straightforward and to the point. People considered me cold, but it was just how I was. It was how I was raised.

I could still hear my folks reminding me that only the strong survive and everyone gets what they deserve. I knew if Idid everything by the book, everything how I should, I would be fine.

She made a sound deep in her throat and looked at her food. "Interesting because that's not how it felt to me."

I stiffened suddenly, at a loss for words. There was nothing I could say to change the past. I had done what I did, and Gina felt how she felt.

As honest and open as Gina was speaking, I could still see she had her guard up. And I wondered if it would ever come down. Would this be as close as she would allow me? Would I ever make up for what I'd done?

She popped a chip into her mouth. "Did you come here right away after leaving the pack?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I was the first person to work with Ayden at the fire station."

She raised an eyebrow. "And Owen is above you?"

"He's Beta."

She tilted her head. "And you didn't want that?"

I smirked. "Fuck no." I never wanted statues. “I don't like the thought of people constantly bothering me. I liked my solitude."

She smirked. "You'd be a terrible Beta anyway."

I couldn't help the laugh that built up and came out. She smirked, proud of herself, and I stared, feeling my heartbeat quicken. It was odd how quickly this woman was changing everything around me in such little time. And I found myself enjoying it.

Chapter 11 - Gina

I closed my eyes and threw my head back, laying it against the couch cushion. My eyes burned from staying up all night instead of sleeping.

Lucas was working overnight on border patrol, and I figured I could work since I was up and had quiet time. So, I stayed up until two in the morning working. Instead of going to bed after that, I decided to start planning the looming wedding.

I had thought of going to bed, but I knew I would just toss and turn because of everything going on. My mind never shut off when it was time for bed, so I figured if I worked until I dropped, I could sleep then.

I pinched my eyes, suddenly cursing myself for not wearing my blue screen glasses. I was going to get a headache soon if I didn't get some sleep. But sleep wasn't coming right away.

I looked at my watch, and it was a little past six. I needed coffee, a shower, sleep, and food—not all in that order.

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