Page 122 of Hurry Up And Wait

“And what is that supposed to mean?”

“Kavanaugh has never really been the monogamous type. But I thought it would be you who broke first.”

I fully faced him, my anger simmering under my skin. Riley was watching the whole thing with wide eyes, her mouth hanging open.

“What, are you betting on this? Is this some sick game to you?” I snapped, marching up the stairs to get in his face.

His hand latched onto my arm and before I knew it, he was dragging me into the house and slamming the door.

“That’s okay!” Riley shouted. “I’ll just wait out here!”

IKE dragged me all of five feet before shoving me up against the wall, caging my body with his as he leaned in close. “Why the fuck are you with him?”

I flinched back at his tone. “What?”

“He’s only going to fuck you over. That’s what a guy like him does.”

“And you would know this because you’re around so often?”

“I know his type. The only thing he cares about is getting in your pants, and now that he’s gotten what he wants…” His eyes dragged down my body as if he could tell exactly how many times I’d been with Kavanaugh and what happened between us.

His blue eyes stared intently into mine, waiting for me to make a mistake so he could pounce. This was all a game to IKE. The only thing he wanted was for me to admit that I’d made a mistake. He made it perfectly clear when I was here that Kavanaugh wouldn’t stick around for someone like me.

“You know nothing about us.”

“Yet, you’re here. Why?”

The question died on my lips. I hadn’t considered that by cominghere, asking IKE these questions about Kavanaugh, I was giving him the ammunition he needed to make my life hell.

“This was a mistake,” I whispered, ducking to get out of his embrace, but he moved in closer, his body nearly pressed against mine.

“He’s a fucking idiot,” he grumbled, his chest vibrating against mine.

I swallowed hard, trying not to let the intimacy of our positions get to me. That’s what he wanted, for me to fall into his arms so he could say he proved his point. “And I suppose I would be smarter to be with someone like you.”

“That would be the stupidest thing you could ever want,” he rumbled.

My breath caught in my chest and he moved closer, his breath fanning over my face. Why was he so close? Why was he doing this to me? It was foolish to come here for answers. This was all a game to him. And as I stood here and remembered the way he touched me…the way he slid his fingers inside my shirt and then threw it in my face, I realized that the only thing IKE was good for was keeping me safe.

I pressed my hands to his chest, ignoring the feel of his muscles beneath my fingertips, and pushed him away. He didn’t budge an inch. Instead, he inhaled sharply, lingered for a moment, then took a step back.

“Why are you really here?” he questioned.

“I—Is Kavanaugh really engaged?”

He shrugged, glancing away. “Don’t know. Don’t care.”

“How could you not know? You work with them.”

“No, I don’t and you know that. So, again, why are you really here?”

“I came because I thought you might have some decency and tell me the truth.”

“And why would I do that?” he asked, leaning back against the opposite wall.

“Because…because…”

“Because you think I’m such an upstanding guy? Because I kept you here for a day after your ex tried to blow you up? It was a job.”