“Traitor,” I mutter.

She laughs. “I’m surprised you didn’t notice him. He was standing close to the entrance and staring so intently at you, I thought he’d burn a hole into your poor face.”

I sigh. “You really take your role as a stalker seriously, don’t you?” I ask him.

He rolls his eyes. “Get in the car. We’re dropping Carly at home and then we’re going to my place.”

“No, I’m going home,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest, standing my ground. “Seriously, I’m not a puppet. You can’t just snap your fingers and make me do things.”

His eyes darken. “Either you get in that car willingly or I make you, Flowers. Choose wisely.”

I huff out a frustrated breath. “You’re impossible. I still want to go home.”

“Alright, fine. Just get in the car,” he says, his voice softer.

I search his eyes for some version of deceit but he seems honest.

“Fine.” I opened the car door and slide into the passenger seat.

I don’t miss Carly’s amused smile as she gets in the back. We drive off in silence, and soon enough the heat in the car and the comfort of the seat lulls me to sleep.

CHAPTER 13

Dominic

“The two of you are the most adorable thing in the universe,” Carly says softly for, like, the third time tonight.

She said it in her texts, she said it back at the bar, and she’s saying it again now. Since she’s content to sound like a broken record, I just ignore her in favor of concentrating on driving us to her house, which I’m sure is a gem considering they live in the most affluent neighborhoods in the city. Her parents are loaded. Her dad is an oil tycoon and her family owns several companies and subsidiaries all under the Queens name. She’s a modern-day heiress, though you’d never know it by looking at her.

“Dominic,” she whispers, sitting up behind me in the car. Madelyn’s fast asleep, which is a little surprising. She must have been tired—and drunk, of course. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”

“Like what?” I mutter.

“I don’t know. I’m over here marveling at everything that happened tonight. Are you seriously my friend Dominic? Not only do you hate showing your face in public but I’ve also never seen you with a woman before. You keep a low profile and yettonight you practically stuck your tongue down Maddie’s throat in front of everyone at that bar.”

My jaw clenches as I remember that. She’s right. That was extremely unlike me. I was just angry. I saw that fucker trying to touch her and lost it. Especially after what happened with that bastard Kenneth earlier today. I just needed to stake my claim in some way.

Madelyn’s right. I really am a caveman.

“You care about her,” Carly states, pointing out the obvious.

Of course I care. I wouldn’t have started this if I didn’t.

“Did you say anything to her?” I question.

“Anything like what?”

“You know what I mean, Queens.”

“Oh, you mean did I divulge any of your deep, dark secrets?” she asks, a smile in her voice. “Don’t worry, I didn’t. We mostly just had girl talk. She’s pretty amazing.”

“Okay.”

We arrive in front of the gated mansion and I turn off the car, signaling for her to get off. She opens the back door and steps out of the car but instead of walking in, she moves to stand beside the window.

“She’s a lot like you,” she says, nodding toward the sleeping woman at my side. “I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.”

“It could be both,” I say on a shrug.