Page 75 of Shark Bait

Shark steps back. “You can’t have your old life and this one at the same time.” A dark expression crosses his face, and his eyes ice over. “You are forever mine, Troy Montgomery.”

I smile at his possessive expression. “I just want access to the internet so I can check on my family.”

“You will get access whenever I’m sure you won’t reach out to them.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

“You will. You will, Troy, because that’s who you are. You want to soothe their wounds and tell them you’re okay and let them move on with their lives and stop searching for you.”

“They’re still searching?”

He shrugs.

I have no doubt Shark knows all there is to know about me. “Can I ask you more about them?”

“Ask away.”

“Will you stay?”

He shakes his head. “I’m up now and won’t sleep anyway.”

“We don’t have to sleep.” I run my nails down his hard abdominals. “Did Denver get a gig?”

“He and Levi have a gig. Your mom had double mastectomy surgery and is back at work now. Your dad is considering retirement. The rest of your siblings are on the farm, but not all of them are happy to still be there.”

“Is Homer alive?”

Shark frowns. “Which Homer? The cat or the dog?”

“Good Lawd, Shark Daddy, you know we have two Homers?”

“I know your toothbrush color was blue even though your favorite color is pink. You didn’t get the pink toothbrush from the pack your mom bought because your brother, Carl, who is starting to look more like Carly, called dibs on it.”

I gape. “How do you know this?”

“I’m a professional stalker, remember?”

“Tell me more.” I grab his hand and drag him back into bed. He sits up against the headboard, and I lay my head in his lap. “Tell me everything.” I sigh as he runs a hand through my hair. “Start with Denver.”

“He formed a boy band. No joke. They started out by posting videos on social media. The songs rose in popularity, they had a few hits when they signed, and now they’re on tour.”

“You lie!” I sit up and punch his shoulder playfully. “How long have you known?”

“Not long.”

“Denver made it. I always knew he would. And he did it without my help. He didn’t need…” He didn’t need the money or the connection I aimed to get from my time with Falena. All this was for nothing. My brother made it anyway.

“Troy?”

A tear slips out, and I wipe it away. “Hm?”

“It’s your song he’s singing.”

I smile and cry a little. Okay, a lot. “Really?” Ah shit, now I’m a mess again. “Which one?”

“It’s calledWhen Troy Left Me.”

I snort, totally unlike a lady. “I never wrote a song by that name, but I rarely come up with great titles. I bet ya a hundred bucks that Levi came up with the title. Commercially, it’s smart. Most people who hear the name Troy in the title think she’s a hookup he’s missing.”

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