Page 55 of Wild Catch
“I’m glad.” Rose actually relaxes against her seat for the first time since she sat down. “That’s what I was most afraid of. I’m just… I’m not ready for that level of intimacy again.”
Yep. This is all because of her garbage ex.
“You set the tone.” I lace my fingers together, watching my forearm muscles jump under my tatted up skin while I grab my own hands tight. “I’m not going to do anything you don’t want to, so you take the reins and I follow,” I finish.
Silence, except for some clowns on the team who are very loudly discussing who else is available to date from the beauties in staff. Their words, not mine.
Frowning, I lift my eyes to Rose.
She’s stunned, that’s the only way I can describe it. Mouth agape, eyes wide, eyebrows up—completely frozen in the act of bringing her ginger ale to her lips.
“What?” I grunt.
“I—Uh.” She blinks several times. “So if I want to, like… hold your hand or hug you, you’ll be fine with that?”
“Sure.”
“And also you’ll respect my boundaries?”
I pull my eyebrows together even harder. “Of course. What kind of question is that?”
Her breath shakes, but she offers her hand like we’re just closing a contract negotiation. “Deal.”
“Deal.” I twist to grab her hand, so much smaller, softer, and colder than mine. “Do you need all this in writing or what?”
“No.” She shakes her head, eyes still dazed. “I trust you.”
And now I’m the one who’s reeling.
CHAPTER19
ROSE
“Are you ready, mamacita?” I ask my roommate from the threshold of her bedroom.
“I don’t know, I don’t think I ever will be.” Hope frowns at her reflection in the mirror. “Like, is this girly enough? Does it fit in with the ultra polished WAGs?” She motions at the gray sheath dress that in my opinion is going to put to shame those fancy WAGs. They wish they had a body like Hope’s, all lean and strong and beautiful.
I sigh, conscious of the enormous ass that didn’t let me become Miss Florida, and forget Miss USA.
“To be honest I don’t know, it’s also my first time going to a WAGs party.” I shrug, hands up in defeat. “But I honestly think you look better than any WAG, so don’t worry.”
“Save that flirting for your new boyfriend, it is truly lost on me.” Hope’s expression is deadpanned. She snatches the purse she borrowed from Audrey and follows me out.
“For your information,” I say as we walk out into the living room. “Logan’s not my boyfriend yet. We’re just starting to date.”
“And that’s the keyword. Yet.” She has the nerve to smack my behind hard enough that I jump. “Trust me, he won’t be able to resist all that for long.”
“I—” Stopping myself, I just shake my head. It’s not like I can explain that theyetwas a slip up. That he and I won’t in fact ever get together.Ever.
We are so not each other’s types. He’s too pretty and notorious for my insecure ass. I’m too opinionated and stubborn for him. I have the feeling he’d fare much better with a woman whose north pole is him, and that’s just never gonna be me.
“Oh, yeah. You’re absolutely done for. To the slaughterhouse,” Audrey says from her armchair in the living room.
“What?” Hope and I ask at the same time.
“I’m agreeing with Hope. You,” blondie points at me. “Are the cow. And he… is going to eat you. Wait and see.”
I make a face. “I’m not sure I like that allegory. I’d like to think I’m more than just meat.”
