Page 20 of Rebel Bride
“Just doing your good deed for the day.”
“Uh huh.”
“Even if it makes you look bad to others.”
What was this? “I don’t care how I look to others.”
“Doubt that. We all care. What I can’t understand is why you did it.”
“Like I said?—”
“Right, you couldn’t resist my sad and pathetic presentation, and you’re a sucker for a damsel in distress.”
I didn’t respond. Just looked at her as she shot sparks through her eyes. Why she was angry at me for doing her this favor I had no idea.
But part of me liked it. Because seeing this side of her meant I might have misunderstood her before.
There might be a whole other Summer I could learn.
Instead of a fire blanket, I opted to throw paraffin on the flames. “You suddenly don’t seem all that grateful.”
“Oh, I am. I’m also confused. Because why would you do this when you so obviously hate my guts?”
Chapter Seven
Summer
* * *
There, I’d said it. Hatch Kershaw had never liked me, so his assistance today was incredibly confusing. I needed to know what was happening inside that broody head of his.
“Now wherever did you get that idea?”
Not denying it, then. “Oh, every single time we meet. If you’re not glaring me into the ground, looking down your nose at me, or sneering in my general direction, you’re usually ignoring me even when I speak to you. It’s incredibly rude.”
“Believe me, I have never ignored you.”
“Yes, you have. Back in February, you came in for a meeting with Ryder and while you were waiting, you put in your earbuds. After I spoke to you directly.”
He shrugged. “So I didn’t hear you.”
“Anytime we’re in the Empty Net, you look at some point over my shoulder.”
“There’s always a prettier girl.”
“And if I ask you a question, you act like I smell bad.”
“I’m allergic to your perfume.”
This. Liar. I had experienced enough gaslighting from my fiancé, I wasn’t going to put up with it here.
“I might be a lot of things, Hatch, but I’m not stupid. Evidently, I offended you at some point in the past.”
He crossed his arms over his chest, displaying rolled up sleeves and incredible forearms. All the players had amazing physiques, big shoulders and thick thighs. Hatch had always struck me as so imposing, even more so than Dash.
“You’re mistaken, Summer. I really don’t have any opinion of you.”
I pointed. “Impossible. At this point in our relationship?—”
