Page 49 of Redeeming Rabbit

“Start from the beginning. How did the two of you… Why was he in your room?”

Once again, bottling up my emotions, I recalled the events that led up to Rabbit’s presence in my bed in the same way I’d detail a scientific paper. Nothing but the facts from the beginning to the end. Most of them, at least. When I finished, I met her gaze and said, “So that’s that.”

“Wait. After I interrupted you, he just… got dressed and left?”

Unable to hold her gaze, I looked away and nodded.

She had to know I hadn’t told her everything, but rather than demand I spill all my secrets, she surprised me by saying, “He was arrested, you know.”

My head snapped up. “What? When?”

“He showed up when Darius was making Matt regret his poor life choices.”

How had I not known this? After the attack, Tina had been so upset she hadn’t said a word about Rabbit, and I hadn’t asked. And I’d been avoiding her calls ever since. “What happened?”

This time, it was Tina’s turn to let out a breath. “So much. I would have filled you in had you answered your damn phone.” Her tone had an accusatory edge, justified, but still.

I narrowed my eyes at her. This was no time for that hindsight nonsense. “I’m here now.”

She huffed. “Anyway, Rabbit showed up during the fight. He didn’t lay a hand on Matt, but the cops took one look at your… I’m guessing, boy toy, and they figured he was probably guilty of something. It didn’t help that he was armed and—”

“Wait. Armed with what?”

“Rabbit always carries a gun. But he has his concealed carry. He also keeps a knife in his boot.”

Where the hell had he hidden the gun? It was odd that I hadn’t noticed, but perhaps that was why he’d insisted on undressing himself.

“Anyway, the cops roughed him up while restraining him, and he spent the night in jail before Emily, the club president’s ol’ lady, could get him out. She’s a lawyer.”

“Roughed him up? Is he okay?”

Her lips twitched, but she didn’t smile. “Yes. He’s fine.”

I released my breath. “Good. Why did they rough him up?”

“Said he was resisting. Emily called bullshit, though. And she’s apparently been making friends in high places.”

“Wow.” The word was wholly inadequate, but I didn’t know what else to say.

“Yeah. So, there’s that.”

“I… He didn’t answer my texts.”

He rejected me.I tried reaching out…After I rejected his overture of love,that annoying little voice of reason reminded me.

She frowned at me. “You already said that.”

“It seemed important enough to reiterate.”

“Why?”

Her questions chipped away at the wall I’d carefully constructed to hold back my emotions. The construction was flimsy, and it had been eroding for days. Still, I depended on it to keep me functional. “Because it doesn’t make sense. We had an incredible time together, and I thought…” Words failed me.

“Whatdid you think, El?”

I shook my head. “Never mind. It’s crazy.”

Whatever she saw in my expression caused her eyes to widen in surprise. “Wait. You actually like this guy, don’t you?”

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