Page 22 of Katie 2
She’smyslut which means that I’m the one who gets to have her. Carter and my dad get her because it works, but no strangers. No one outside our circle, and as much as I logically know it’s not her fault that the dickwad wants her, I hate his thinking for even a second that he can have her.
“You’re not available, Katie,” I growl in a low voice. “We own you and that means you tell others you’re taken. You’re not available for lunch. You’re not available for flirting.”
But her face is so soft, so innocent. As innocent as sheisn’t.
There’s no illusion that she was upset tonight. There’s no way for me to avoid the reality that she will keep talking to other men because she has to, but there’s a way to do it and she apparently needs to learn that.
So as much as I want to climb into bed, hold her, let her wake up to me and know that I didn’t hurt anyone, that I’m not just going to disappear on her, I’m not ready for the conversation we need to have.
It’ll become a fight because she just won’t understand. I wish she didn’t have to, but this isn’t a problem that’s going to disappear.
Which is why I’m not going to let her know I’m here. I’ll leave a note for Carter and that will be good enough. At least for now, while I set up my next step for Dan the Dick and my disobeying slut.
Chapter eleven
Katie
My back rests against a tree in front of the main building. I try to focus on the essay in front of me, the words blurring together as my mind drifts. It’s late afternoon, and I should be concentrating—this paper won’t write itself—but something’s off, a low hum beneath everything.
I look up, squinting against the golden light of the setting sun, and see him. Dan. He’s across the quad, waving frantically as if he’s been waiting for me.
I groan inwardly.
Not now.
I just want to get through this day without any more complications. I can’t seem to shake him. My bag is tightly nudged against my side and I start packing up my books. If I move fast enough, maybe I can avoid him. But as usual, he’s quicker than I am.
“Hey, Katie!” His voice is too loud.
A wave of dread washes over me. I don’t stop to look at him, but I know he’s getting closer. I don’t have time for this.
I force a tight smile as I glance up, trying to be polite, but it’s a struggle. “Hi, Dan.”
I sling my bag over my shoulder, making a show of gathering up my things faster than necessary. Sweat builds on the back of my neck. I need to leave before this conversation goes any further. Carter made it clear. I need to stop leaving any doubt. I either need to tell him I’m seeing someone or cut him off without wiggle room.
But Dan isn’t having it. He steps right in front of me, blocking my path. He’s grinning like this is all some game. I notice a bruise on his cheek, another on his jaw. It looks like his lip was split too. That makes his grin even more menacing. Fresh from a fight and he’s acting like nothing has happened at all.
“You headed out?” he asks casually, like we’re friends.
“I—yeah, I have to get going.” I force my voice to sound normal, but my pulse is already starting to race. I don’t want to anger Brad further.
He doesn’t move. “I was thinking… maybe we could grab coffee later? I’ve been meaning to talk to you. We could hang out, you know?”
I take a small step back, trying to create some space. “I’m really busy,” I say. “I have a lot of stuff to do.”
He doesn’t take the hint. Instead, he closes the distance I just created, blocking my way. “Come on. Just one coffee. You deserve a break, don’t you think?”
I shake my head. “Dan, I’m not interested.”
Still, he doesn’t back off. Instead, he looks at me with this strange, almost pitying expression, like he thinks I’m playing hard to get. His words don’t match that ‘too happy’, sweet air I’d pegged him with either. “You sure about that?”
A flash of irritation rises up in me. What the hell does this guy think? Am Isureabout whatI’msaying? The fact that he thinksthat he knows what’s going on in my head pisses me off so much that I almost get why Brad’s been pissed.
I wanted Dan to prove me right. To prove that not all guys approach girls just to date them or fuck them. I wanted to believe that one clear ‘no’ would be enough. I’m twice as mad that Dan isn’t doing me that meager favor.
“I’m seeing someone,” I say.
The second I say it, a strange sense of relief settles my mind, like I’ve finally established a boundary. But Dan doesn’t seem to care.
