Page 108 of The Alpha's Bullied Rejected Mate
“Jealousy doesn’t look good on you,” he whispered.
Athena huffed a laugh. “I’m not jealous.”
He stepped closer, his tone softening. “I’m sorry.”
That made her chest tighten, but she looked away.
I’m not falling for it.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Actually… I was on my way to you for the same reason. Another dinner.”
“Sure,” she responded. “Riley—
“No, not that,” he interrupted her. “Just us, again.”
“You and me,” he emphasized.
Athena’s heart fluttered.
She tried to keep her voice steady. “That last one was hard to top.”
He met her eyes then. And there it was—that tenderness that made her want to believe there could be more for them.
“I don’t need to top it,” he said. “I just want to spend time with you.”
The silence stretched, full of something fragile and hopeful.
Finally, she nodded. “Okay,” she said. “One more dinner.”
His shoulders eased, and his grin was boyish in the way she hadn’t seen in years.
“One dinner at a time,” he said, echoing the words he had once whispered.
But her heart didn’t feel like it was moving one dinner at a time.
It was already sprinting ahead.
Urgh. She groaned internally to herself. He had her.
She kicked him playfully in his knees.
He laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I deserve that. But I mean it. I want to do it right this time. Just us.”
Her smile faded into something more tender. “You don’t have to prove anything, Marcus.”
“I’m not trying to prove something,” he said softly. “I just want time with you, Athena. Not as Riley’s mom. Just you.”
She stared at him, a dozen thoughts warring in her head. Her heart ached at the effort he made, the care in his tone. But also at the weight of uncertainty still pressing between them.
“Okay,” she said after a moment. “Dinner.”
He smiled, and for a brief second, everything in the world felt right.
“I’ll light better candles,” he added with mock seriousness.
She rolled her eyes. “Just don’t burn the place down.”
“I make no promises.” He smiled as they both giggled into the air.
