She would be perfect for them, but I couldn’t be enough for her.
The knowledge weighs heavy in my soul as a knock sounds at my door.
“Donovan?”
April’s scent floods the room before I even open the door, all sweet warm vanilla and brown sugar.
She’s changed out of her dress into an oversized shirt and pajama pants, and the makeup is off her face.
She’s beautiful, even when her eyes are narrowed at me and her lips are pulled into a thin line.
“Hey,” she says. “About earlier?—”
“Forget it. You’re allowed to do what you want,” I say. “There’s nothing in the contract that says you can’t kiss Liam.”
“You’re angry with me,” she says.
“Not angry. Disappointed.”
She raises an eyebrow. “Excuseme?”
“You said this was strictly business, right? To help your café? You put all of that at risk by putting on that display of affection at the gala,” I say coldly. “The wrong person sees you, or makes an assumption, and it puts everything at jeopardy. The people there are vultures.”
She crosses her arms and takes a step back into the hallway. “You never communicated that,” she says quietly.
“I did, but maybe you were too busy playingboard gamesto remember.”
I sound like a prick, but I can’t help it.
I’m not lying about these people. Gossip runs wild in their little cliques, and appearance is everything at these events.
“I kissedLiam. He’s part of yourpack.What bad impression could that possibly leave?”
I clench my jaw, realizing I don’t have an answer that doesn’t make me sound like a jealous asshole.
Maybe it’s because you are a jealous asshole.
I know the most about her. She confided in me, yet she chose Liam…
“You don’t know our world. Life for us isn’t baking cookies all day or making lattes.”
Now you’re a jealous assholeanda piece of shit.
Her eyes widen a fraction, then cloud over. I watch as she shuts down in front of me, a cold mask of indifference spreading across her face.
“You’re right,” she says lowly. “I’m not like you. And it’s something I couldn’t be prouder of. I don’t walk around with a stick up my ass, despite having everything I could want. I’m not a pretentious, entitledprick.”
Nothing she said was incorrect. “Anything else?” I lean on the doorframe and cross my arms, matching her stance.
“Skylar’s picking me up tomorrow. Don’t worry about how I’m getting back.”
“That’s ridiculous. I’ll fly you back.”
I know she can’t stand me right now, but I was secretly hoping to have alone time with her in the air, even if she’s pissed at me the entire time.
“Flying back home on a helicopter is ridiculous. She doesn’t mind the drive. She’ll be here around eleven tomorrow.”
“I don’t agree.”