Page 170 of Prey for You

“I mean, if it’s legal. I’m under caution so I have to step carefully. But sure.”

I took one step closer and dropped my voice just in case the close was listening somehow.

“Next time youfeel something,tell the person. Even if it hurts. Even if they reject you. Don’t put this bullshit mask on and make it aboutbeing right.Just be you. Because I know there’s good stuff buried in your chest. But you have somefucked up ways of showing it, Jer. Get some damn therapy.Please.” I gave him a pointed look. “I know a guy.”

Jeremy huffed. “Cute.”

“No, it’s real. I don’t want to hate you. I never have. But this… you almost took everything from me because you wouldn’t fuckinglisten.Because you’re so damn jaded and cynical, you didn’t even let yourselfconsiderthat he might be different—even after I told you he was.”

Those muscles in his jaw flexed again. “From the outside looking in, he looks like every other psychotic, misogynistic predator that we ever put inside.”

I didn’t waver. “But that’s the problem. You stopped seeing people and started seeing an issue to solve. That’s why I’m telling you—and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but fucking Gerald was right:Say it.Put yourself in a place to get hurt. Maybe it works out, maybe it doesn’t. But if Sam’s shown me anything it’s that when you’re losing your shit, if you get honest, that’s the chance for something beautiful to happen.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he muttered. But he didn’t look angry. Just tired. And sad. And a little unsure of himself, which was verynotJeremy.

I didn’t know what to say, and apparently neither did he because we both stood there for too long in awkward silence.

Then I sighed again. “I have to go.”

He nodded. “Yeah, me too. Finally getting that vacation.”

“I think that’s a good idea.”

“Don’t have a lot of choice. In about an hour they’re going to get the papers signed by a judge so I’m not allowed to be within a hundred feet of you or Sam for the next six months and I’m guessing he’d take a lot of pleasure in putting himself in a situation that could me put in jail, so…”

I blinked. “They put a restraining order on you?”

He shrugged. “It’s paperwork—so if an accusation of cover up comes out they can say they’re dealing with it. And it’s leverage—they want to keep a tight leash on me. But it’s real. So… yeah.”

“God, that’s ironic.”

He shrugged again, but I saw the way he wasn’t comfortable in his own skin. “That’s why I needed to talk to you now. I won’tbe seeing you for a while. You can tell Sam that,” he said sullenly.

“But, Jeremy, that’s the difference between you and him: When I tell him that, he won’t try to trap you. He’ll do everything he can to stay out of your way. Because even when he’s mad, he’s fuckingkind.”

“You’ll forgive me if that’s a theory I don’t want to test.”

“You don’t have to test anything. Just listen: It’s true. He’s a good guy. So much better than me. And now I need to go, because I need to see him and start putting all this bullshit behind us.”

Jeremy looked down, nodding. “Okay. Well, thanks for giving me a chance to say my piece.” He turned away, but I called him back.

“You’re welcome. And Jer?”

“Yeah?”

He faced me again, and I couldn’t fucking resist.

I stepped right up to his toes and put my hands on his shoulders. It was obviously the last thing he expected, because that façade of indifference dissolved. He stared at me, wide-eyed.

Then I whispered, “Samiskind. Much kinder than you. Or me. He doesn’t think revenge is healthy.” I held his gaze, then smiled. “I’m not so convinced.” Then I yanked him down at the same moment I drew my knee sharply up, right into his balls. Jeremy made a strangled noise and dropped like a stone, grabbing his crotch with both hands and groaningnotin the fun way.

“Thanks for the memories, fuckface. Now, please get therapy.”

He was on the sticky, stained cement, rolling around in his fancy suit. “That’s not fucking funny, Bridget!” he croaked.

“I disagree.”

Then I walked off to the car, grinning. And feeling happier than I had since the last time I saw Sam.

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