Page 68 of Insidious Heart
“Well, that’s disappointing then.”
“Sucks to be you, doesn’t it?”
I frown as I tilt my head to the side. “You’re mad.”
“Aren’t you a genius.” My little dove rolls her eyes before glancing toward the end of the hall. “What gave it away?”
“The look on your face that says you would have kicked me in the nuts if you had the chance.”
Stevie turns back to me, her brows furrowing before one raises in confusion. “You’re serious?”
I just nod.
No use in lying, not about this.
Hell, I haven’t lied about anything to my sweet baby dove, I just haven’t told her the specifics of everything either. And while I know that can be considered deceitful, there’s a damn good reason I haven’t blurted out that I’ve been contracted to kill her father. Aside from that, though, I’ve been completely truthful with Stevie and it really is because I fucking hate liars. That and I don’t see any reason to lie to her. It doesn’t do either of us any favors.
She stares at me for a few beats, those bright eyes searching my face through the shadows dancing in the hall around us. Stevie’s expression doesn’t soften at all but I can see it change minutely, the touch of what almost looks like pity taking a slight edge off the anger. It isn’t pity though, not really, I just can’t put my finger on what it is because my brain doesn’t process this shit the way everyone else’s seems to.
“Yes, Victor, I’m mad at you.” My little dove sighs as she hugs herself a little tighter, her gaze dropping to her dark purple pumps. “Very mad actually, and I’m also a little hurt and embarrassed.”
“Why?” Because that complicates things further for me and I need the clarification. But judging by how quickly Stevie’s eyes snap to mine, she wasn’t expecting me to ask that.
“Because,” she snaps. “Because I had no idea you’d be here tonight—”
“We haven’t seen each other in a few days, it’s not like I could text you.”
“I know.” Another annoyed huff.I’m very familiar with annoyance, so I know that when I see it.“But I wasn’t expecting to see you, and at first I was excited.”
My frown deepens as I fold my arms against my chest. “And now you’re not?”
A faint blush starts to paint Stevie’s cheeks as she shakes her head. “I’m not.”
“But why?”
“So help me god, Victor, if you ask me that one more time I might just scream.”
Yeah, my sweet little dove is definitely annoyed with me and I’m too fucked up to have any clue as to why.
Which she must pick up on because her shoulders drop and she lets her arms fall to her sides. “Because you lied to me.”
“Bullshit, I lied.” My posture stiffens immediately, my back straightening as I push off the wall. “I’ve never lied to you.”
Stevie lets out an exasperated laugh. “Oh my god, really? I understand maybe you’re a little naive when it comes to feelings and stuff, but you aren’t stupid, Victor.”
“Pretend I am then,” I bite out through clenched teeth. This is really starting to piss me off but this woman doesn’t deserve my anger so I’m going to school it as long as I can. I just don’t know how long that’ll be if she keeps implying that I lied to her.
“Fine.” Stevie bites back. “I’llpretendyou’re an idiot who doesn’t understand the difference between the truth and lies, ok,Bones?”
The sarcastic tone has me thinking maybe she doesn’t like my fake club name but it seems pretty silly to be pissed off about that so I’m sure there’s more to it.
Something she confirms as my little dove narrows her stare and says, “Couldn’t be bothered to tell me you’re a Wulven King? Too busy sleeping with the daughter of a rival club’s president to clarify?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I might be naive too, might not have fully understood what was going on between us, but seeing you here tonight made things crystal clear.”
I shake my head, confused as fuck now. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”
