Wyatt laughs as he jogs back to his car and opens the back door. He is quick to unlock the handcuffs and send Cal on his merry way with another tip of his hat.
“See you tomorrow, Alana!” Wyatt shouts at the top of his lungs.
Cal looks over his shoulder. I can’t make out the expression on his face since he is turned in the opposite direction, but I get a good look at his curled fists. He keeps his eyes on Wyatt until his taillights disappear down the driveway.
Cal walks slowly toward the house, drawing out the process. He still hasn’t looked directly at me, so the closer he gets, the harder my heart pounds.
“So, first night here and you’re already getting arrested.” I lean against the doorframe and cross my legs at the ankles.
He looks up with narrowed eyes. “Technically, I was detained.” He rubs at his wrists.
I shake my head. “What were you thinking, trying to assault an officer?”
“Are you fucking him?” he asks through gritted teeth.
My heart rate spikes. It’s one thing to accuse me of sleeping with someone else, but it’s a completely different issue for him to think I would sleep with his old best friend. Instead of allowing my irritation to guide my reply, I choose a different tactic.
“Would it matter if I am?”
Oh, Alana. You know better than to taunt him.
His nostrils flare. “Hell yeah, it matters. You should hear the way he speaks about you.”
Wyatt, I hope Delilah gives you hell when you get home.“It’s none of your business who I hook up with.”
He rubs his clenched jaw, as if it can erase the tic. “You can do better than him.”
“He’s notthatbad.”
“What a glowing review for a guy who probably couldn’t find your clit even if it was labeled with a neon sign.”
I choke on my laughter, killing it before he has a chance to hear it.“Cal.”
His nostrils flare. “What?”
“Wyatt was right. Youarejealous.”
He scoffs. “I’m not jealous.”
“Good, because if you plan on staying here, you’re going to be seeing Wyatt a lot. I’d hate for things to be…uncomfortable.”
Stop baiting him.
It’s hard not to when he is clearly jealous yet won’t admit it.
So, what if he is? It’s not like it matters.
Each of his fingers flex before curling back into themselves. “That’s fine.”
“Are you sure? You did try to choke him less than twenty minutes ago.”
“And I’d do it all over again if I heard someone talking about you the way he did.”
My heart beats harder against my rib cage. “Like what?”
“Like you didn’t matter to them.”
My control over the situation slips, along with the protective shell I keep around my heart. “Cal…”