Page 31 of Forever Mine

It was possible. “Let’s see what the note says.” I stood and unfolded the piece of paper.

Never in my life had three sentences made me rage like this did. I saw fucking red, everything going hazy around the edges.

“Jay? What’s wrong? What does it say?” Dakota gently pulled the paper out of my shaking fingers, but I hardly noticed, all I could think about were the words typed in a basic Times New Roman font.

My Beloved Dakota,

You deserve someone who gives you flowers.

Love,

The one you should choose.

CHAPTER 13

DAKOTA

How couldthree simple typed sentences feel so ominous? It was nothing. A rose and a few words. That was it. Yet, it was way more than that.

I couldn’t stop staring at it. I knew we should go into my apartment. That we couldn’t just stand paralyzed in the hallway forever, but that didn’t make it easier to move.

“Jay?” Fuck, I hated how weak my voice sounded.

When he didn’t answer, I forced myself to look away from the paper and at him. Jay was staring straight ahead, unseeing. His whole body was shaking with rage, his hands fisted so tight that the knuckles were turning white.

“Jay,” I said again. I couldn’t think of what else to say or do, but for once, I couldn’t be the strong one here.

Somehow, it snapped him out of whatever trance he was in. His head whipped toward me. I don’t know what he saw on my face, but his expression completely transformed from unadulterated anger to concern and something softer.

“Fuck. Sorry, sweetheart.” He stalked toward me and pulled the paper from my hands. He cupped my cheeks, forcing me to look up at him. “I’m gonna check out your apartment. Can you wait right here for me?”

I nodded before I even realized what I was agreeing to. Jay took the key out of my pocket and unlocked the door. “I’ll be right back, sweetheart. Don’t go nowhere.”

“Okay.” It wasn’t until he went inside that I realized he was checking to make sure no one was in there or had fucked with my apartment.

My heart was racing. Did he really think that was possible? Sure, this was creepy, but…

“It’s all clear. It doesn’t seem like they went inside.” I blinked. What the fuck was happening? Just minutes ago, all I could think about was getting Jay naked.

Jay took my hand. “Let’s get you inside.” He picked up the note and rose, then wrapped his arms around me, ushering me into the apartment.

I was in a bit of a daze. I watched Jay lock my front door and then he guided me to the couch. I didn’t know I was shaking until he threw a blanket around me. He started pacing the floor in front of me.

“Jay, can you sit with me, please?” That immediately did the trick and Jay stopped, coming to sit next to me. He hauled me onto his lap and buried his face in my neck. I melted into his hold.

“Sorry, darlin’. I’m here. I’m not goin’ anywhere.”

He didn’t mean physically. He was letting me know he had enough of a hold on himself to stay present with me when I really needed him.

I didn’t answer, just snuggled closer, enjoying his arms around me.

Jay planted light kisses on my neck, face, and shoulders, and just held me, neither of us speaking. But we obviously had to talk about it.

“I’m not cheating on you.” I didn’t think Jay thought that, but the thought had been racing through my brain this whole time.He was so fucking angry when he read the note, I wanted to make it clear. “I would never do that.”

One second my back was to his front and the next, he had me on my back on the couch and he was on top of me, his face just inches away from me. “What the fuck, Kota? Did you really think I thought that?”

I shrugged. My heart was racing, but not from fear. The way he manhandled me…well, let’s just say if the situation were different, I’d be ripping his clothes off.

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