Page 23 of Concealed

I have no idea when our paths will cross again, so it’s now or never.

“I’m sorry about what I said about cops the other night,” I whisper.

He nods. “Thanks. But you still mean it. It’s what you believe. You’re just sorry you shared it with me.”

“Maybe. But I feel terrible that I might have hurt you.” My pent-up anger and bitterness made me act out of character, and I am far from proud of myself.

“You can make it up to me,” he suggests.

My heart gallops like a wild horse, the anticipation of what he’s about to suggest making my mouth dry. There’s something about this man that plummets my mind straight to the gutter, but it’s not like he’s going to ask me to kiss him.

Even though I kind of wish he would.

I haven’t been involved in what I would consider a consensual sexual relationship in a long time. Sure, Matt fucked me when he felt like it, but that was for his pleasure, not mine.

The only reason I laid there and took it was to keep him calm and hope that he fell asleep so he wouldn’t hurt me. I gave up trying to fix Matt years ago and was only trying to survive – literally.

I had an entire fantasy world in my head where I had a normal existence with a normal partner. When your life is so completely messed up, even the mundane activities that others take for granted are the stuff dreams are made of.

Laughing so hard at your inside jokes that you can’t breathe? Flirting while making dinner together in the kitchen? Cranking the music and then singing and dancing in the car while spending the day running errands?

Sign me up for all that monotony.

“How?” I ask, and my voice is a lot huskier than I’d like.

Wyatt’s eyes darken, and I’m starting to believe this dude is telepathic. That would be terrifying but explain a lot. I’m paying far too much attention to everything he does, and I notice that his Adam’s apple bobs and his nostrils flare when he takes a few rapid breaths.

But he quickly regains control and shrugs as though we didn’t just have a moment.

Wedid.

“My boss is making me take the day off,” Wyatt says. “I’ll be back at it tomorrow, but today is wide open. Do you want to go for a walk and explore a bit?”

I’m very tempted to say yes because I’ve been dying to get outside in the sunshine, but haven’t wanted to go alone – just in case. My whole life still centers on Matt and all the “just in case” scenarios running into him would bring.

I tell myself every day that I’m safe and he won’t find me here, though it’s hard to imagine that I could actually be free from him. But I can’t spend the rest of my life hiding or looking over my shoulder because then there was no point in leaving him – he’s still the boss.

Wyatt barks out a laugh. “That’s a very long pause. It’s cool if you don’t want to hang out with me. You don’t have to think up a fancy excuse.”

“I’d love to go for a walk with you,” I blurt.

He gives me a crooked grin that sends butterflies swarming inside me. “Awesome.”

I’m dressed like a hobo, so I dash upstairs to change, excitement bubbling in my chest at the prospect of getting some vitamin D. I have no idea what to wear, a decision that is suddenly immensely important. I want to look hot, but not so hot that he thinks I’m trying too hard.

Or trying at all.

Wyatt isn’t anything close to my boyfriend, but it’s still a step in the right direction to spend time with a man and maybe laugh and flirt a bit.

These are things that should come naturally to me but don’t – not anymore. And I need to start practicing to regain my confidence if I have any hope of reclaiming the person I want to be.

Easier said than done, but what could happen to me while I’m out with a cop? And it’s just a walk for a God’s sake, he didn’t propose.

I’ve kept Wyatt waiting way too long, so opt to go with a white sundress and comfortable gladiator sandals. I put on my big sunglasses and leave my hair down in loose waves.

There.

Casual, yet sexy.

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