Page 36 of Omega's Refuge

“But I didn’t make you nervous yesterday.”

“I was drunk. I wasn’t feeling much of anything.”

He didn’t respond or react to what I said. He added more wood to the fire, his expression very serious. When he suddenly glanced up, he caught me looking at him. “Can I ask you something else?” he asked quietly.

“Yes.” My pulse fluttered.

“Do you plan on reconciling with Steve when you get back home?” He sounded a tiny bit breathless.

“God, no,” I rasped.

“He’s going to have regrets. I can feel it in my gut.” Rex straightened, studying me. “It’s hard to turn away people we love.”

“It is hard, which is why I took him back last time. That and because he’d given me his bite.” I ran my fingers over the bite mark on my throat. “But bite or no bite, he’s shown he can’t be trusted.”

“I agree, but love is a weird thing,” he said softly. “Sometimes we end up giving people way too many chances.”

“You’re right.” I lifted one shoulder. “I loved Steve, so I gave him another chance. I thought it would be easier that way. In the end, it didn’t work out, and now I have to get rid of his bite and go through all the pain of breaking up anyway. I guess I took the coward’s way out by trying again.” I grimaced. “But as painful as this is, Idon’t regret giving him another chance. At least I know I tried my hardest to make it work.”

“I’m not judging you for trying, Tanner. I feel like you think I am. I understand fully why you gave Steve another chance. Having his bite on your neck was no little thing. He probably begged for another chance. You’d have had to have a heart of stone to turn him away.” He shrugged. “I don’t think you have a heart of stone. I think you’re pretty amazing, if I’m honest.”

“You barely know me,” I said softly.

“Yes and no. I can tell what kind of person you are by how this all went down with Steve.” He frowned down at his clasped hands. “It’s when the shit hits the fan that you truly see what people are made of.”

“I don’t think I handled Steve leaving well at all. I drowned myself in booze and tried to forget my problems. How is that an honorable way to handle things?”

“You were upset, but that’s only natural. You wanted to be numb from the pain. Who could blame you? You didn’t lash out and try to hurt Steve. You could have called the cops on him. You could have made his life hell, but you didn’t.”

“I thought about it. Don’t make me out to be a saint.”

“Thinking about revenge and acting on it are two very different things.”

“I guess.” I let out a tired breath. “I just want to skip forward to two months from now when I’ll be feeling stronger. Happier.”

“I don’t blame you.” He gave a weak smile. “If I had a time machine, I’d take you for a ride.”

I laughed gruffly. “Thanks. I’d take you up on that.”

We smiled at each other, and that now familiar attraction buzzed between us. His smile slowly faded and his expression once again became very serious.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

He shook his head. “Nothing is wrong.”

“You look so serious.”

He shrugged. “I just have a lot on my mind.” He cleared his throat and stood. “I think we should probably call it a night. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”

I stood too, disappointed he wanted to go to bed. But it was late, so that was the smart thing to do. “Well, sweet dreams, Rex,” I said.

“You too, Tanner.” His smile seemed forced.

I turned and headed down the row of tents to mine. Once I was inside my tent and cozy inside my sleeping bag, I closed my eyes. The sound of crickets outside the tent was lulling. It had been a long day, and my body was tired. Despite the drama of Steve abandoning me, I felt almost content. Instinctively, I knew that was because ofRex. He had the ability to calm me with a glance. A touch. A smile.

I couldn’tbegin to understand why that was. I only knew, as I drifted off to sleep, it wasn’t Steve who was on my mind, it was Rex.

Chapter Six

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