“What’s up?” She kissed my cheek.
See? Everything’s fine. You’re just being paranoid. You’re so used to women fawning over you, you cannot accept that your girlfriend doesn’t want to elope right this minute.
“You tell me. We haven’t spoken all day.”
I officially sounded like all the women I’d ever let down in my life. I had to admit, being on the other side of that equation felt pretty shitty.
“I didn’t want to interrupt you and Bear.”
“Then why aren’t you inviting me in right now?” I challenged.
She looked left and right, her face falling as she dropped her voice.
“Gabriella’s been telling everyone we’re sleeping together. Remember I told you she stopped by your house when you were away delivering the Duggar baby?”
How could I forget?
Tennessee’d almost had a nervous breakdown.
I knew I needed to sit Gabriella down and explain to her, for the millionth time, that we were over. But I didn’t trust her not to try to pull some next-level, Days of Our Lives, Roman-is-not-dead-nor-is-he-Roman bull crap.
Secret pregnancy, emotional blackmail, exorcism—Gabriella wasn’t above any of those tricks to make us happen, and I wanted to give my relationship with Tennessee a few more days to stabilize.
“I remember,” I ground my teeth.
“Well, I guess that’s her payback. Everyone knows we’re sleeping together now.”
“Great.” I shrugged. “Now we don’t have to keep it a secret.”
“Trinity wants me to call it off.”
“She’ll come around.”
And if she didn’t, well, too bad for Trinity, then. Tennessee was a terrific sister. Her life revolved around making Trinity happy.
“Now, can I come in and have dinner with my girlfriend?”
“I…well, I’m…”
My eyes widened.
She wasn’t actually thinking about calling things off because of Trinity, was she?
Only, she was.
Of course she was.
This was Tennessee we were talking about.
“You’re considering it,” I said flatly.
“I’m trying to figure out the best course of action.” She let her head drop to the edge of my window.
“You’re a medical miracle, you know,” I said.
She looked up, resting one cheek against my window frame. “How so?”
“You’re the only person I know who can stand upright without a spine.”
She winced, pulling away from the car.
I snatched her jaw, trying to get her to look at me. She made a low, moaning sound and pulled away, rubbing at her cheek. That’s when I saw she was back to wearing an unholy amount of makeup. And that the makeup was designed to hide something ugly…instead of concealing something beautiful.
I narrowed my eyes, realizing that one of her cheeks was red and had the imprint of fingers on it.
“What the—”
“I’m okay.” She took a step back.
But it was too late.
I’d already gotten out of the car and slammed the door shut behind me.
“The hell you are. Who did this to you? Was it Rob?”
I was going to kill him and then feed him to the coyotes bit by tiny bit.
She snorted. “I’d bitch-slap Rob before he bitch-slapped me.”
My jaw went rigid, and my muscles clenched.
“Trinity.”
“I’ve got it handled.” She tried to scurry away from me.
“The little witch.”
“She was mad.”
“She’s about to be furious when I kick her ass to the curb and make her jobless.”
“Cruz, no.” She clutched my arm, tugging hard. “Please let me handle this my way.”
“Your way is lying on the road waiting for her to run you over. This isn’t just about you—you think I want someone that heartless taking care of vulnerable patients? No, thanks.”
“My way is giving my family time. Easing them into the idea.”
“What idea? Of you going out with a respectable member of the community?”
“Of me starting another scandal.” She jutted her jaw out. “They hate it when I’m the center of attention.”
I hate them for making you feel like a burden.
And myself for not taking charge, because God forbid I do something less than pristine and make someone uncomfortable.
“I’m starting to lose my patience here, sweetheart,” I said, dead serious. “I’m not going to chase you forever. I like you, Tennessee, but I don’t like the way you make me feel, and that’s starting to become a problem.”