Page 118 of Bad Wolf (Wild Men 4)

“I may have cost him his job. I didn’t cover one of his shifts like he asked me to. I was upset with him, and… and the boss got furious when nobody showed up and fired him. My fault. Jarett never said he was interested in me, I just assumed, and… anyway, tell him I’m sorry.”

She disappears into a back door of the bar, and I’m still staring after her.

Well, okay. Not sure how to feel about all this. Pity? Fury at her for costing him his job? Or at assuming he wanted her?

Come to think of it, isn’t that exactly what I’m assuming right now about myself?

Crap…

I trudge across the street and down two blocks, until I locate Fat Burgers. I guess this must be the place. I press my nose to the glass of the front window, trying to see inside, but no Jarett. Okay.

I could go inside and ask.

Ugh, no way. Enough with this search, I’m getting a weird stalkerish vibe. Let him call me back. Let him be the one to make the next move, and also let Sydney say all she wants.

This is so hard. I never knew that loving someone means to hold back, not to push, to pretend not to worry. To tie your own hands so you can let the other person be free.

If he doesn’t call back, if he doesn’t care about seeing me, talking to me, then that’s his choice.

I never knew loving someone is the same as letting someone go with the hope they will come back.

Hurrying to the bus stop, I blow into my hands to warm them. The days are getting colder. Taking out my phone, I stare at the blank screen. No missed calls. No text messages.

Is that a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach, or is it all in my mind? Is my worry over something real, or is it just nerves because I’m scared that last night meant nothing to him—when it meant so much to me?

That I mean nothing to him, when he means everything to me. It scares me so badly.

Last night he didn’t say anything about losing his job and getting another. Is this why he seemed so upset? Was it because of his mom? Was it something else?

I want to ask him.

I want him to come to me on his own terms, without me asking again, to tell me what’s on his mind.

So stupid of me. I should have known that being in love is to lose one’s mind.

My phone rings late in the night, interrupting the music I’m playing, and my heart leaps the moment I see the caller.

He called me back.

With butterflies crashing about in my stomach, I connect the call. “Yeah?”

“Gigi.” Oh God, his voice. So deep. Sexy. “You called me. Is everything okay? Are you okay?”

Crap, and it looks like I managed to worry him. “Yes, everything’s fine.”

“Okay.” He breathes out. “Good. Gigi…”

“What?”

He’s silent for a few beats. “I can’t fucking stop thinking about you.”

“Yeah?” I swallow hard, my heart pounding fit to burst out of my chest, and my body clenching.

“I wanted to call you, but I got caught up in something. Did I wake you up?”

“No.” I smile up at the ceiling. “I was awake.”

“Awesome. I had to see you. Couldn’t wait any longer.”

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