Page 258 of Sin With Me

Because I don’t. I’ll never regret that.

When I’m done, tears line my eyes as he stares back at me, his massive hand scrubbing his bearded jaw over his mouth. I hold my breath as I wait for him to speak, to give me some kind of advice I know will forever change me.

Instead, he just reclines back on the couch, his legs spread wide apart. My stomach twists as I stare back at him, feeling sick with anticipation.

“You’re both just fucking kids,” he breathes, shoving his hand through his hair.

“I don’t feel like a kid,” I mutter, dropping my eyes to my tattooed hands. I stare at the letters on my knuckles. Home. Sick. Homesick. “I’ve never felt like one.”

Not unless she’s around to shine her light on me.

“Can’t believe he did that,” he says darkly. He presses his knuckles into the palm of his opposite hand, cracking them. “Should’ve kicked his fucking ass the other night.”

My lips tip up in a small smile at the thought of terrifying, hulking Kon taking on my father. He’d make Isaac his bitch, walk him like a fucking dog, and I’d happily sit and watch.

Slowly, my smile falls. “Does she hate me?” I whisper, my voice raw. Kon sighs loudly before resting his elbows on his knees.

“Pyro.” I keep my eyes on my hands, not wanting to see whatever bitter truth is on his face. “Look at me.” But I can’t. He taps the coffee table between us with his fingertips. “Look. At. Me.”

Reluctantly, my gaze raises to his. His face is hard as he stares at me. “I don’t know Eve all that well, just from what you and Chase have told me about her, and the little bit I’ve learned from spending time with her. But she’s a good girl, man. And, even if you don’t see it, she’s in love with you. So in love with you that when she ran away, she ran straight to your fucking house.”

“But she ran from me,” I mutter, and he shakes his head.

“I think somewhere deep down, she knew coming to Mammoth would mean coming to you. She’s choosing you.” The words make my throat tighten.

“You think?” I rasp, and he gives me a firm nod.

“I fucking know.”

“But I haven’t heard from her. I haven’t seen her. I don’t…” I sigh, trailing off. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Show her you love her,” he says quietly. “Don’t just tell her. Show her, Pyro. Words mean shit. Actions? They’re everything.”

Show her.

How?

How the fuck am I supposed to do that when she won’t talk to me? When she probably doesn’t want anything to do with me?

Kon clears his throat, drawing my attention again. “We’re going for a drive later. I can talk to her for you if you want.” He rubs the back of his neck, his tanned cheeks staining red.

“Going for a drive?” I repeat, my eyes narrowing. “Why the fuck are you driving around with my girl?” His lips twitch, but he shakes his head.

“I’m teaching her how to drive,” he says. “You know she didn’t know how? Doesn’t even have her license.”

It feels like the air’s been knocked from my chest as I sit back in the chair. “What?” I rasp.

That never even dawned on me. I just…fuck, I just assumed. The bastard never taught me to drive, but I always just figured it was because he hated me so much.

But Eve—if nothing else, Isaac has always loved Eve.

“Yeah, said no one ever taught her.”

“Jesus Christ.” I shove my hand through my hair. “I can’t fucking believe he didn’t—” I squeeze my eyes shut, the truth sinking in.

Fucking asshole.

“It was another way to control her,” Kon mutters, and my eyes flutter open. “Another way to manipulate her into thinking she had to stay. To keep her solely reliant on him.”

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