Page 49 of Panther's Magpie
PANTHER
As the door slams shut behind her, I tip my head back and sigh. Goddammit, things were going so well until they weren’t.
This shit is so fucking complicated.
One minute I feel fine, and then the next it’s like this shit with Aspen is eating me alive. As soon as I forget about her, she comes back with a vengeance. She’s a pain in my ass.
I feel like fucking trash for pulling away from Maggie when all she was trying to do was comfort me. I had to bite the tip of my tongue to stop myself from lashing out at her. She knows I’m not okay because she’s in the same boat right next to me. We’re both faking it.
I was such a dickhead she was forced to run away from me. All because an image of my sister’s pissed-off face popped into my mind telling me that I don’t deserve to be happy, not while she’s missing, and sure as hell not with her best friend.
Still, I can’t help but feel guilty that I was having a good time with her. Her laughter lit me on fire and made me feel ten feet tall. If she were anyone else, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal, but she’s Aspen’s best friend. Maggie is Aspen’s person, not mine.
I want her to be mine, though, and that’s the crux of it all.
I want her, and I shouldn’t. If there is one thing I know about my sister it’s that she would not support her best friend and me getting together. She likes to keep every part of her life separate. Or at least it seems like it if her previous actions are anything to go by. Hell, she never liked any attention I got from females at all. It was as if females being in my life would take the attention off of her. I used to play into it, but now? I don’t want to anymore. I finally found a woman I want more than to appease my sister. I shouldn’t want that.
Still, I look back at the door and fight the urge to go inside. To pull her into my arms and comfort her. To kiss her. Fuck, she looked so sad when I pulled up, but after a few truly cringe-worthy jokes, she smiled. She laughed so hard she cried.
Somehow I took her sadness away and made her happy.
I did that.
Not Rain, Meek, or Eagle.
Me.
The whole reason I left the bar tonight was because I wanted to hang out with her. I wanted to spend time with her alone without anyone watching us. I sought her out, and I don’t regret it. I’d do it all over again, even if it ends as awkwardly as it did tonight.
I don’t think I could ever regret spending time with her.
Not with the way she makes me feel.
My phone vibrates in my pocket. At first, I ignore it but when it starts going off for a second time, I groan as I pull it out. The unknown number flashes across my screen, making me pause. Months ago, I would have ignored it, but now I can’t.
“Hello?”
“Now you answer,” Ava huffs.
I pull my phone away from my face and hang up. Of fucking course it had to be her. I should have just let it go to voicemail and saved myself the trouble of hearing her voice.
I used to laugh when the boys would say her voice was like nails on a chalkboard, but now I hear it. They were onto something, but if I had to pick one over the other, I would pick the chalkboard. Every time. Without question. Because chalkboards don’t whine or talk back.
Before I can even figure out how to block her number, she calls one more time and sends me five texts.
Stop ignoring me.
Come on, Panther, you know we belong together.
Is she why you broke up with me?
Stop trying to make me jealous and answer me, dammit.
Panther…this is getting old.
I scoff at her last message before I delete the thread.
I knew she was delusional, but I didn’t realize how far off the fucking rocker she really was.
