Page 123 of Ruthless Legacy

My feet carry me forward. “Are you sick?”

That’s something deeply personal and I understand him not wanting to share that detail with me, but if chasing me in the woods isn’t healthy for him, I would never have let him do it.

“Not a donor match. I’m healthy. It’s a relational match.”

I take an involuntary step back, my back hitting the desk behind me. “They matched you. Like that thing Eloise is always bragging about?”

My stomach clenches at the idea of Holden and his match doing the things he’s done to me. I don’t know this girl, but I dislike her already. I dislike that just as I’m thinking about Holden, like some stupid girl with a silly crush, he’s no longer available.

If she’s as annoying as Eloise, that means she’ll throw it in my face every chance she gets, and I’ll have to see him out in public with her at League events.

“We’re going public in a few days.”

“Yeah, of course. Cool. Congratulations on being matched.”

His face drops. Why is he looking sad? This is a good thing. It’s good for him. I’m not deaf. I hear the way girls talk about him. They all assumed he wouldn’t get matched until he’s older, now it’s happening. This is an honor for her and a major milestone for him. Or so Eloise keeps saying. “I guess you and Finn will be planning a lot of double dates.”

“Date?”

“That’s right. She can’t be worse than Finn’s match, so you won’t be embarrassed to take her out in public.” I chuckle. “I wish I could’ve been there when you told Pax he’s officially a third wheel.”

He tilts his head, studying me. “You’re really okay with this? You’re happy about it?”

“Of course I’m happy for you. Just because I’m not into dating doesn’t mean I don’t think other people should date.”

His face pinches. “Happy for me, or happy to be done with me?”

“Happy for you, Holden. This woman might be your future first wife.”

His bag drops on the desk with a heavy thud. “Or not. The point is…”

His glare could freeze the entire surface of the Pacific Ocean. “Go on Thea. Tell me, The. Point.”

Now he’s mad? Geez, can he pick an emotion and stick to it? “The point is, you have someone for all your needs now. Someone you can train to be your perfect little victim.” I force out a laugh. “I know this has to be a relief for you. Now, you’ll have someone to play with without worrying about any backlash. Her job will literally be to make you happy. You can scare the shit out of her and she’ll have to take it with a smile and a peppy, ‘sir, may I have another?’”

“You’re happy. For me?”

“Absolutely.”

“Because you think my urge to chase you is all about my need to control and not be judged about it? You think this gives me the freedom to seek that release?”

“Of course it does. I’m sure her NDA is extensive. Don’t worry, I’ll still sign the one we talked about. I won’t bring our history up and make it awkward for you. That’s why you’ve been avoiding me, right? You’ve been afraid about how I’d react when you told me about your match, because of the animosity between me and Eloise, right?”

I roll my eyes. “Eloise gives me shit, so she gets shit. If your girl acts like she has some sense, so will I.”

“She’s not my girl.”

“Your match. Companion. However, you want to refer to her. The point is once it’s announced, you don’t have to worry about me being petty.” I glance over at the door. “But tell her don’t expect me to give her any tips or compare notes on when you hunt her. That’s between the two of you, and I don’t want to hear about it.”

He moves from behind his desk. “Interesting.”

“What is?”

“You think I’ve been avoiding you because I was afraid to tell you about being matched? As if something that insignificant would bother me?”

“You admit you’ve been avoiding me?”

“Yes, because I’ve been working out my plan for how I wanted to tell you that this changes nothing between us.”

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