Page 57 of Choices

Pulling on my shirt and slipping my feet into my boots, I shake my head. “Nah, it’s fine. Claire’s old man is coming to get him this afternoon.”

“Okay. Good. See you, bud. Stop eating those gross vegetables. They’re making you too strong,” Callan teases before leaving the room.

“Cat now?” Rocco jumps excitedly.

“Yeah. Let’s go see the cat.”

I don’t bother knocking, hoping she’s not sleeping naked like she usually is. The wood creaks as the door swings open and her voice reaches me before I see her.

“I’m sorry…” Her words fall off, and her brow furrows when she sees it’s me.

“You’re forgiven,” I say, entering the room like it’s my own, the door clicking closed behind me. I didn’t expect her to be up, but she’s sitting on the edge of her bed in a tiny pair of shorts and a tight shirt that shows her pierced nipples through the fabric. Her naturally blonde hair is messy from sleep. I don’t know why she wears colorful wigs all the time. The woman’s every man’s wet fucking dream just the way she is.

“What are you doing?” she breathes, getting to her feet, her eyes flitting to the empty hall behind me. Heat rises on her cheeks and creeps down her neck.

Who the hell was she expecting?My muscles flex beneath my skin.

Rocco tugs his hand from mine and races over to the cat, who is lounging on the chair. Kitty’s gaze tracks his movements as she crosses her arms to hide her nipples.

Shame.

“Seriously, what the fuck are you doing?”

“The lady said a bad word,” Rocco gasps, and Kitty narrows her eyes, as if saying,“Why is this kid in my room?”

“Rocco wanted to see the cat. I promised he could to get him to sleep last night,” I inform her.

“I don’t care,” she says, stone-faced.

“Who did you think I was?”

“What?” she snaps, irritated.

“You apologized when I entered. Who did you think it was going to be?” I jerk my chin, a slither of suspicion squinting my eyes.

“Is that your business?” Her tone is sharper than a blade, hostility simmering beneath the surface.

“Was it Wheels?” Taking a step toward her, my heavy boots skim the tips of her bare toes. My hands curl into fists before flexing open again. I need to control my-fucking-self. I search her eyes and find pain teeming behind anger.

“Who?” Her eyebrows screw together in confusion.

“Tim, Kit. Are youfuckinghim?” I mouthfucking,looking to Rocco to make sure he’s preoccupied.

“Have I slipped into an alternate universe?” she asks, stroking her temples. “Again, Cutter, it’s none of your business.”

I’ll make it my business. Images of them naked rolling around in her bed burn into my brain. I want to take an ice pick to my skull to shatter them.

“You think Callan’s going to be all right with this?” My heart pounds against my ribcage. Did she fuck him? Was he in here? Did she think it was him coming through the door? I’m losing my fucking mind.

“It was you who always gave a shit about Callan’s opinion—not me. I’m grown. I’ll do what and who I like.”

“You think I’m going to be all right with this?” I seethe, white-hot fury clouding my vision, causing a haze in my head.

Shoving my chest, she grits her teeth. “Why do you care? You don’t want me.” She shoves a finger in my face. “I’m not yours.”

How can she look me right in the eyes and not know how fucking wrong she is?

She’s all I want. She’ll always be fucking mine.

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