Page 5 of Sacrifice
Saga's eyes flash with anger. "Emil, what the fuck?"
"Just being helpful," I say, not taking my eyes off the kid. "Brandon here was just leaving."
"I was?"
"You were." It's not a suggestion.
He looks at Saga, who's practically vibrating with rage, then at me.
Smart kid.
He recognizes a losing battle.
"I'll, uh, catch you later, Saga," he mumbles, then retreats.
"You asshole," Saga hisses once he's gone. "You absolute fucking asshole."
"You're welcome."
"Welcome?" She shoves me, barely moving me an inch. "You just scared off a perfectly nice guy for no reason!"
"I had reasons."
"Name one!"
"He touched you."
The words hang between us, too honest, too raw.
Her mouth opens and closes, no sound coming out.
"You don't get to do this," she finally says, voice low. "You don't get to act like you own me."
"I don't?—"
"Yes, you do. You've been doing it all night. Watching me, scaring off any guy who looks my way." She steps closer, poking me in the chest. "We are nothing, Emil. Nothing."
"You sure about that?"
"Yes."
"Then why are you shaking?"
She jerks back like I've slapped her. "I'm angry."
"Liar."
"Fuck you."
"You already did that."
It's a low blow, bringing up history we've both been pretending doesn't exist.
Her face flushes, and for a second, I think she might actually hit me.
"Once," she says quietly. "One time. That's all it was."
"Bullshit."
