Page 70 of Marked By the Pack
“It’s for your own good, Zoey.” He stood back up.
“Bennett, I really like him. Huxley and Ace too. I…” my voice trailed off. “What is your problem with me?”
“I don’t have a problem with you.”
“Right. You just forbade me from seeing your friends. That doesn’t exactly scream that you and I are okay.”
“Zoey, you don’t understand. Being alone with Otto is dangerous.”
Seriously…why did everyone keep saying that?!“Okay great. So I can’t date your friends. Understood.” It was stupid, but I could feel tears welling in the corners of my eyes. It wasn’t just that I was used to getting what I wanted. It was that I actually liked Otto, Huxley, and Ace. A lot. I stood up.
“It’s nothing personal, Zoey.”
“Really? How is it not personal? Emma was good enough for you and I’m not.”
“That’s not…”
“It’s fine.” I pulled my jacket on. Of course I wasn’t good enough for him. I wasn’t Emma. I walked around in a sports bra, flirted with all my clients, and had a MyFanatics account. If he liked Emma, he wouldn’t like a girl like me. I’d never be like Emma.
“Zoey…”
“Just pretend this conversation never happened. And good luck finding another Emma.” I walked out of the coffee shop. I should have asked for a to go cup. Pounding caffeine felt like a really good idea right now. Especially if it was spiked.
Fuck, I hadn’t even gotten a chance to ask Bennett about the coin with an Anubis head. And now I never would because I honestly couldn’t face him ever again.That was humiliating. Like being turned down by five guys all at once. I sighed. I guess that technically was what had just happened. I should have just asked him about the coin. Making sure Emma was safe was the most important thing. Not my sex life.
But even just thinking about it made me want to actually cry. It wasn’t just sex. I really liked them.
I made it two steps down the sidewalk before Bennett grabbed my wrist and pulled me into his chest.
“Zoey, I’m sorry. You just took me by surprise. I wasn’t comparing you to Emma. I was just…”
“It’s fine,” I said again. “And don’t worry, I’m not going to tell anyone your secret.” I tried to pull away but he tightened his grip on my wrist.
“That’s not my secret.”
What?
“You really like Otto, Ace, and Huxley? You’re serious about this?”
That was a weird segue. “Yeah.”
“Then come by the bank tonight. I have something I need to show you.”
I just stared at him.
“9 o’clock. Okay?”
I found myself nodding even though I really just wanted to slap his perfect face.
“Keep that on.” He reached out and ran his fingers along the choker. “It’ll help keep you safe.”
I nodded again, even though I didn’t really understand what he was saying.
His fingers fell from my neck. “See you tonight, Zoey.” He crossed the street and hurried over to the bank.
Bennett’s words finally registered in my brain. If him liking to share women wasn’t his secret...what the hell was?
Chapter 19
