Page 32 of Perfect Alpha

“You didn’t do anything. I’m just bored with the direction we’re going. I don’t want to marry you. I’m not ready to settle down. I don’t know how much clearer I can be that I’m just not into you anymore. I don’t love you. Maybe I never did. I’m moving on with someone else and you should, too.”

I can’t stand listening to this bullshit for a second longer. “Don’t you ever speak to me again, Cade Fenway!” I scream, as though he even cares. “I fuckinghateyou!”

Before I can think about it, I’m running full speed through the woods, jumping over fallen logs and dodging branches at every turn.

I need to get back to my parents’ place and tell them what happened. I’ll tell Hannah eventually, too, but it’s a delicate balance. Cade is her brother and she must be neutral.

Staying in Montana and seeing Cade with his new girlfriend would be torture.

I’m going to New York City and never looking back.

Waking up drenched in sweat with thoughts of Cade suffocating me is not my idea of a good time. Given what went down last night, it’s not surprising that old feelings were stirred up, leaving me with an emotional hangover.

Based on how twisted I am in the sheets, I must have been trying to run in my dream, or perhaps in this version, I walloped Cade with a tree branch. With a groan, I disentangle myself and head straight towards the shower to wash away the memories.

The plan to torment him backfired. I lost all my common sense staring into his eyes.

My traitorous hormones were screaming at me to take him to bed even though he made it clear he doesn’t give a shit about me. Avoiding new heartache was worth the price of all the orgasms I sacrificed under his expert touch.

Glancing at the clock and noting it’s still early, I decide to open the shade for the first time since arriving home. There’s no way Cade is awake yet, and I’m wilting without access to natural light. What’s the point of being in Montana if I can’t look at the beautiful sky?

Except he is awake. The stars aligned, and he’s opening his shade at the same time in all his shirtless and divine glory.

I groan my protest at how cruel the universe can be.

What did Idoto deserve this torture?

I’m only wearing a towel, and it gives me some sweet revenge when his jaw goes slack as he gestures for me to open the window. Reluctantly, I comply and do everything in my power to keep my expression neutral.

“Hey, New York,” Cade drawls. “How did you sleep?”

“Wonderfully,” I reply sweetly, as I lie through my teeth. “I had a very restful night. Thank youso muchfor asking. And how was yours?”

“It was torture, actually,” he admits. My towel falls an inch, and I make no move to lift it. “All I could think about is how sexy you are and how badly I want you.”

He wants me in the sense that he’d like to stick his penis in my vagina. But he doesn’t wantme. Not anymore.

“I’m not interested in having a one-night stand with you,” I say, surprised my nose doesn’t grow long enough to challenge Pinocchio.

I want to jump him whenever he’s near me, but letting him into my life again would be an emotional wrecking ball that knocks down all the walls I’ve worked so hard to build. I’m not going back to that dark place, and I can’t trust Cade with my heart ever again.

“Who said I just wanted a one-night stand?” he asks so softly that I barely hear him.

My heart skips a beat because, apparently, even after all this time, the stupid organ was still hoping Cade would throw me a bone. After putting myself out there last night only to have him reject me, I’m extra vulnerable.

“We’d be good for at least two nights,” he adds.

I’m so glad that I didn’t scream out my thoughts, which are, “Oh, God, Cade, you want to get back together? Me, too! I have since the day you dumped me.”

When he lifts his head, the flippant grin that is his constant expression around me is back in full swing.

Rather than reply, I let my towel drop to the floor and flash him like I used to when I was a teenager. His jaw drops like a cartoon character, and the heat from his eyes sears me from twenty feet away.

“Victory,” he growls.

I slam the window down and yank the shade so hard that I’m surprised it doesn’t come free in my hands.

Chapter 12

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