even think it.
“He won’t hurt me. Not like that.”
Leaning down, I kissed her. I wasn’t so sure about that.
My phone rang and I pulled it out of my pocket. Gavin. “Great, what does he want?” I swiped to answer. “Yeah.”
“Bro, I’m pretty sure I can build a jump that will clear the ravine.”
“No.”
“Come on, I’ll be the first to test it. It’ll be fucking amazing.”
“You’re a jackass. Is that seriously why you called me?”
“Yeah. Also to chew you out for not letting us in on your prank on Luke.”
“What prank on Luke?”
Fiona’s eyes widened.
“Whatever Fiona pulled on him yesterday. I saw her car parked at his shop. What’d she do and why didn’t you tell us?”
“There was no prank, Gav.”
“What? Of course there was. You don’t have to cover for her. Why else would she have been at Luke’s shop?”
I stared at her, watching her face go pale. “I don’t know.”
Gavin was quiet for a second. “Oh. Maybe it wasn’t her car then.”
“Maybe not. Gotta go, Gav.”
“See ya, bro.”
Without taking my eyes off her, I ended the call.
My heart knocked against my ribs and my pulse throbbed in my temples. I had a hair trigger when it came to that name, and when I spoke, my voice was louder than I intended. “Were you at Luke’s shop yesterday?”
“Yes, but—”
“What the fuck, Fiona?”
“Could you maybe not yell at me? I was going to talk to you about it.”
“Were you? This was yesterday and I hear about it from my brother?”
“Yes, I was.” She crossed her arms. “I went there to talk to him. Why is that such a big deal?”
“Because he’s fucking Luke Haven,” I roared. “You know what that means.”
“I don’t know why you have to make your childhood rivalry everyone else’s problem,” she said, her voice rising with every word. “Your families want to pull pranks on each other, fine. I get it, it’s kind of funny. But this thing between you and Luke is out of control. One of your brothers sees my car there, and suddenly you’re yelling at me about it?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I haven’t had the chance. I was going to last night but you attacked me in the kitchen—which, for the record, I’m not complaining about. But do I have to tell you everything, now? If I run into Luke on the street and wave, should I call you? I probably should in case the freaking Bailey patrol reports me.”
“He wasn’t reporting you. He assumed you were pulling a prank, because why the fuck else would you be there?”
“Why would you assume I was doing something bad? Don’t you trust me?”
I was so fucking angry. Too angry too fast, and a voice in the back of my head tried to tell me to shut up. To stop yelling and listen to her.
But, like the asshole I was, I didn’t.
“I thought I could trust you, but you’re hanging around with Luke fucking Haven, so now I don’t know.”
Her mouth dropped open and her eyes blazed with fire.
Fuck. I’d gone too far. But I was too pissed and defensive to take it back.
“Fine.” The word cracked like a whip. “If you don’t trust me, I don’t know what I’m even doing here.” She stomped to the bedroom and came out with her purse and a sweatshirt slung over her arm. “Do not follow me.”
“Fiona—”
“Don’t.” Without another word, she stormed out the door and slammed it behind her.
“Fuck.” I raked my hands through my hair. I wanted to kick something, but there was nothing close. Which was probably a good thing. “Goddammit.”
Sasquatch stood nearby, the fur along his spine standing up. I’d agitated him. He didn’t know what to do when his humans were arguing.
“Sorry, big guy.” I went over to the couch and sank down. Rubbed my hands over my face. “Why the fuck would she go to Luke’s shop and not tell me?”
He came over and climbed onto the couch next to me so I could pet his head.
“Yeah, I’m sure she had a good reason. Maybe she’s right. Maybe this thing with me and Luke is out of control. What do you think I should do? Go after her?”
I paused for a moment, scratching behind his ears.
“We probably both need a little time to cool off. She left her plants, so we know she’ll be back.”
Letting out a long breath, I leaned my head back. Damn it. I shouldn’t have yelled at her. She didn’t deserve that.
And maybe I didn’t deserve her.
In