“Aren’t you here for the story?”
She bites her lower lip as if she’s contemplating it. “Fine, tell me and then I’ll go.”
I shake my head.
Her brows scrunch. “I did my part of the deal. You promised, Aiden.”
Those flushed cheeks are adorable when she’s angry.
I can’t get enough of being under her skin.
I doubt I ever will.
“Stay the night and I’ll tell you.”
“I can’t. Aunt and Uncle expect me to be home.”
“Tell them you’re staying the night with Reed.” I pause. “You were planning on it before she cancelled last second, no?”
“How the hell do you know that?” She narrows her eyes. “You manipulated Kim into telling you, didn’t you?”
I lift a shoulder. “Stay the night or I won’t say anything.”
Her nose twitches as she mulls the proposition in her head. I can see that eagerness. The need to know, and it feels good to have her need me.
Even if I have to threaten her for it.
At least now, she won’t be fucking around and telling me it’s over.
It’ll never be over.
I might have to give up some of my bargaining chips to keep her close, but it’s worth it as long as I have her in my space.
Even if she still can’t trust me.
Elsa is smart and has more self-preservation than anyone I know.
Good.
She shouldn’t trust me. At least not yet.
Because when I tell her what I know, there’ll be no going back.
It’ll be the beginning of her decimation.
And mine.
18
Elsa
I agreed to stay the night.
Okay, agreeing isn’t the right word. I was coerced to stay the night.
Aiden knows how much I need the truth and like the psycho he is, he used my desperation to his benefit.
But then again, I’m well aware of his manipulations and I fell for them anyway, so I guess that makes me an accomplice.