Page 13 of Tell Me You Need Me

“You better start talking, motherfucker.” Rich charges into the room. I’m not sure what he is going to do, but I move quickly, sitting up and moving Teddy down on the couch as I stand, wanting her behind me. The last thing I want is for her to get hurt.

“This isn’t your business,” I tell him, which is bullshit. I don't know what's going on between her and Rich, but right now, I'm feeling extremely possessive of her.

“Not my business?” He steps even closer, almost in my face. I’m guessing he thinks I’m going to back down. Rich doesn’t scare me. Not a lot of things do anymore.

“Okay, everyone calm down.” Teddy tries to get between us, but I move her behind me again. “Hey, I’m not a doll. Stop moving me around.” She lets out an adorable huff.

“He’s taking advantage of you, Teddy,” Rich half-growls as Willa tugs on his arm, trying to get him to step back. Teddy grabs mine to do the same. I let her take me. Why not? She is focusingher attention on me, not him. It’s another fucked-up thought, but I can’t stop it. I have tried, and it's useless.

“Nothing is going on. Calm the hell down!” Teddy shouts. “We were watchingTraitors,and we fell asleep.”

“Hey, you watchedTraitorswithout me?” Willa gasps loudly enough that you would think that's the big issue here.

"Sorry. I can watch it again. I passed out after the second episode," Teddy rushes to say back.

“Nothing is going on. You sure about that, Teddy?” The little shit glances down, pointing out that I’m hard.

“Oh my God, Rich!” Willa smacks his arm. Teddy’s face flushes.

“Real juvenile, Rich,” she manages to get out even while her face is turning pinker by the second. What can I say? I am hard. It’s a natural state I’ve been enduring since I laid eyes on Teddy. “Men are always hard when they wake up.” What the fuck?

“And how would you know that?” There is that jealousy again. I’m not sure if I’m more pissed at Rich or at Teddy’s response at this moment.

“It’s common knowledge.” Teddy rolls her eyes. “What? Wait, what time is it?”

“Seven,” Willa answers her.

“Shit! Everyone needs to table this. I have to get ready.” Teddy darts past me. I want to reach out and grab her, but I control myself. She leaves me standing with Willa and Rich.

“You know how old she is, you fucking creep.” Over a decade younger than me.

“Rich, you heard Teddy. Table it.”

“Right.” He shakes his head, staring at me with disgust. “You said you weren’t like him.” Fuck, I think I would have rather he coldcocked me because that blow was a direct hit.

“I’d never hurt her.”

“You’re not going to get that chance,” Rich vows before he storms from the room.

“That was, oh.” Willa lets out a breath and blows her bangs across the top of her glasses, a detail I had never noticed before. I take in the rest of her, and the reality of why Teddy rushed out of here sinks in.

Willa is dressed in the standard Lighthouse High uniform. Khakis and a white polo shirt. Girls can wear the pleated dark green and blue skirts. Your shoes have to be black.

“You have school today?” I state what is now obvious to me. Even Rich had been in khaki pants and the polo.

"First day." A small smile pulls at her lips. "Aren't you expected to be our guardian or something? I think that would be on the things-to-know list."

"Clearly I'm shit at this." Willa lets out a snort of a laugh. "You even laugh like her." I utter the words before realizing I spoke them out loud.

"Who?" Her brows pull together.

"My mother. Your grandmother.”

"Really?" Her eyes widen with curiosity. "I've never seen a picture of her or my own mother for that matter. You Haven men aren't great with the ladies." I can't argue with that, so I don't.

"I have a few pictures. Would you like me to get you copies?”

"Yes, please. I'd love that."

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