Page 61 of Ward Willing
“He doesn’t. He’s just overprotective. Hence his nickname in my phone.” I say softly, reaching out for Scotty’s hand on the wheel. He pulls it away from me, and I ignore the sting of rejection.
Scotty lets out a slow sigh before turning to face me again. “Overprotective? Or is he actually jealous?”
I bark a laugh. “Jealous? Of what?”
Scotty’s jaw hardens. “Of us. He’s always giving me back-handed compliments and insulting me under his breath. Don’t get me started on the way he looks at you. It’s beyond creepy.”
My hackles rise on the back of my neck. “Hey, that’s not fair.”
“It’s true. We all see it.”
“We?” I ask, swallowing.
“Yeah. My band.”
I try not to laugh. This whole conversation is ridiculous. The hackles from a second ago rise higher, and I suddenly feel the need to stand up for Liam. He’s never crossed that line without my consent before, so there’s nothing creepy about it. He’d stop the second I said no.
“Listen… Liam is the only thing I have left of my parents. He was my dad’s best friend. We’re close, but it’s not likethat.”
Liar, liar…
Scotty looks down at his lap, and for some reason I know what he’s going to say before he says it.
“I don’t want you being alone with him. He’s like a predator. I mean, he’s known you since you were ababy,Zo–”
“Stop,” I snap. “You’re being an asshole. And since when do you forbid me to see other guys?”
As he runs his hand over his mouth, I’m suddenly aware that his feelings for me have progressed pasthanging out.And mine… haven’t. Scotty is fun, but I’m nowhere near in love with him.
“I was thinking… we could… be exclusive,” he mumbles.
I open and close my mouth. This is a far cry from a couple of months ago when we first met. I was at a munch with Orion, and Scotty was having drinks with friends. We happened to be waiting for the bathroom together, and one thing led to another…
He was supposed to befun.
It was never supposed to be serious. It was never supposed to go beyond that. Scotty fit perfectly in the box I placed him in two months ago. A good time, good sex, and he was always willing to drive me where I needed to go, which was very kind of him. I never had to ask, either. He was aloof, but nice.
Still… I don’t want to be exclusive.
Not with him.
There’s only one person I’d ever consider being exclusive with.
The thought slams through me, but I push it so far back in my mind that I nearly give myself a headache.
“Scotty…” I trail off, working my lower lip between my teeth.
“You’re not seeing anyone else, are you?” he asks quietly, almost hopefully.
I shake my head. “No, it’s not that. I think that maybe we need to take some time apart. I don’t know what I want, and this was only ever supposed to be casual.”
Scotty’s nostrils flare as he stares straight ahead. “Really, Zo?Casual?If that’s how you see this, then maybe we should take some time apart,” he growls.
I fight against the urge to apologize because I have nothing to apologize for. Instead, I grab my phone and pocket it.
“Are you still coming in?” I ask, nodding to the back door of the bar.
“No. Do you want me to drive you home or are you going inside alone?” he asks, looking at me with irritation.
