Page 66 of Clinch'd

The dude in the car flips me off and I wave my hand, shouting, “Fuck you. Creep.”

“Jesus, Minnie. Where are you?”

“I’m across the street from the stadium.”

“I’ll be right there.”

He hangs up before I can respond and with a curse, I lean against the building once more. Seeing him is last on my listof things to do this evening but I’m stuck, since he refused to answer the damn question.

Does this mean I don’t have to forgive him?

After about fifteen minutes in which I give two more cars the evil eye, I’m preparing another go round when the back door opens and he steps from the vehicle.

I eye him warily until he waves me inside. Once I’m seated, I scoot over to make room, ignoring his stare while I arrange my skirt and smooth my hair.

Finally, he sighs. “I’m sorry.”

“Oh? What for?” Of course, I know what fucking for, but the dick deserves to grovel a little. Right?

“Minnie…I don’t know how to do this,” he says, and his solemn tone brings me around.

“Do what?” I whisper, my gut clenching when he runs his hands through his hair, leaving the ends adorably mussed.

“I like you,” he says. “More than I should.”

“Like me?” I say, my heart thumping.

“Yes,” he says on an exhale.

Searching his eyes, I muster a smile. Although I wanted this more than I allowed myself to admit. Now that he’s saying it, sort of, all I can think about is Suit.

I’m not here to fall in love but fuck me, the asshole stole my heart anyway.

What now?

“Min?”

“Yeah?”

“The thing is, I don’t…”

He drops into silence, and I eye him for a moment before touching his arm. With a sigh, he says, “I don’t do this for a reason.”

When I don’t respond, the words I should say clawing at my throat, he bows his head. “I’m a fuck up, Minnie. I can’t be what you want. I couldn’t even…”

He turns away and I drop my hand, balling my fingers into my palms. What was he going to say? Does it matter?

I don’t deserve his affection even if he’s got it all wrong. Cooper isn’t a fuck up; he’s just lost but it’s not my job to help him find his way. Nope, my job is to ruin him.

After his proclamation, we return to the hotel without speaking. I suspect Cooper is already running scared and I don’t know what the hell to think, so when he kisses me softly at my door and bids me goodnight, I don’t protest.

I’ve got a lot to think about.

Chapter 26

Cooper

After dropping Minnie at her room, I take the elevator to my floor with a heavy heart. I don’t know what inspired me to say the ugly shit I did earlier but I’m not proud of it.

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