Page 57 of Up in Flames

Rodberg tries to persuade me, every chance he gets, to touch his Iron Rod. To which I always politely but firmly decline, usually with a giggle.

Joey is out most of the time. I think she’s been partying, which gives me plenty of alone time with Cain, which is just how I like it.

However, his dominance is starting to become an issue, and more importantly, his evasiveness when he receives phone calls at all hours has me thinking there’s more to his job than he lets on.

It’s confusing.

It’s confronting.

And I want to ask.

But I’m terrified of the answer.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

MAKAYLIE

Five Weeks Later

We step out of the elevator and walk to my apartment.

Lately, we’ve been spending all our time in his, but tonight, we thought we’d change it up and come to mine mainly to have some time away from Iron Rod. Plus, Cain still hasn’t met Joey. I haven’t talked about her much, which is incredibly bad on my part. She’s my best friend, and I’ve been neglecting her lately. But she’s so busy studying and partying, and I’m always out with Cain. It’s like we’re living in different time zones at the moment.

When I open the door to my apartment, the lights are off, and I exhale with a sigh of disappointment. I really wanted Cain and Joey to meet, but it appears she’s out again. She’s such a social butterfly.

Flicking on the lights as I go, Cain follows me in, and I take off my jacket and scarf as a flash of lightning, followed by a clap of thunder, rolls outside the windows, echoing through the night sky. I look down at the table to see a note from Joey. Cain steps up behind me as he wraps his arm around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder.

Dear Kaylie,

Where the hell have you been? With him, I bet.

I’ve said it a million times, but I’m incredibly jealous.

When will you give me a chance to talk?

I’m out late tonight, so don’t wait up.

Love you to the moon and back,

Joey xoxo

Giggling, I put the note down on the table.

Cain lets me go, grabbing the letter, his eyes darting over the words like he’s in a reading frenzy. His face is stone cold, his eyes glaring at the words like they’re his worst enemy while his nostrils flare and his face turns bright red.“What the hell, Makaylie?”he yells.

Exhaling, I slump my shoulders.

Not this again!

“What?” I ask inthattone. You know, the one that says he’s being ridiculous as he shoves the letter in my face.

I move away from him, shaking my head. “Are you always this jealous?” I spit out sternly.

He looks at me like I’ve just said the stupidest thing ever. His body slumps slightly like he’s calming down, but only marginally. “No… only with you!”

“Why?”

He throws his hands in the air, scrunching the letter in his clenched fist. “I don’tfuckingknow. I’ve said it before… you have this hold over me. I’ve never felt this way before. Never cared. And Joey’s obviously jealous and wants you. I don’t handle well the idea of someone else wanting what’s fuckingmine!”he yells the last word as he glares at me.

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