“Coco.” He takes his hands out of his jeans pockets and straightens. “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.”
I don’t ask who let him into the building. It’s way too easy to do, as my almost-kidnappers proved.
I gather my wits. “Hi, Atticus.”
He nods in greeting. “How have you been?”
I give a little, half-hysterical laugh. “How do you think?”
“Right.” He lifts a hand to scratch his bearded jaw. “Could we talk?”
I hesitate, but I’m pumped full of caffeine and sweet friendship support, and I hate him but I also melt a little at the sight of him, and…
“Come in,” I say before I change my mind and chicken out. I take out my key and unlock the door. “Wipe your shoes first.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He chuckles, a low, delicious sound, as he comes inside. “You never asked me to wipe my shoes before.”
“I wasn’t upset with you before.”
“Good point,” he says somberly, wandering to the window and looking out. “Excellent point.”
I put my bag away and realize I’m twisting my hands together nervously. “Tea?”
“No, thanks.”
“Atticus—”
“Just call me Ace. Please?”
“I don’t use pet names for men who discarded me like trash,” I say, more harshly than I’d intended.
He turns, his face a mask of pain. “Coco?—”
“So tell me what you wanted to tell me and go.”
“I came to apologize.”
“Okay.” I walk to my sofa on unsteady legs and sink down. “Then do that.”
“I’m sorry I treated you that way. I’m sorry I caused your walls to come up. I wanted you to defend yourself against others, but I find that I hate slamming into those walls myself.”
“Well, too bad,” I whisper.
He comes to sit beside me, heat radiating from his large frame. “I wanted to push you away because being with me is a bad idea.”
“Oh, wait.” I narrow my eyes at him. “Are you going to give me an origin story, too?”
“Origin story?”
“A sob story. Ryder already told me his. Did you plan this? To come in, one after another, to make me feel sorry for you?”
He gives a harsh laugh. “I see.”
“I’m not falling for it. Just so you know.” I lift my chin. “So you can save your breath.”
“You don’t want to know why I’ve never formed a pack or sought out a permanent partner in my life?”
Shit. I bite my lip and glare, because of course I’m dying to know. “Did your parents also die in a horrific accident because of something you did?” I mutter.
