Chapter 7 - Gina

After the terrible incident at the store, things go quiet for a few days. I don’t initiate any conversations, and I keep my answers to Bae’s questions short. Even though we have achieved a routine together, every moment feels strained.

I can’t remember the last night I had a good, restful sleep. If the circumstances weren’t bad enough, my attraction to Bailey hasn’t waned at all. In fact, it seems to be getting worse.

Especially after seeing him go after Scott.

I shake my head hard, trying to clear it of these thoughts. I’m trying to have a few moments to myself in the kitchen before Bae gets up to settle myself for the day ahead, and I can’t do that if my mind keeps running me in the wrong direction.

My fingers tighten on the warm cup, almost burning me. The strong, rich scent of the coffee right under my nose does little to bring me back to reality. All I can think about is Bae.

When he slammed through the door at the shop, I was shocked and frightened by the way he looked. His golden hair was wild around his face, his lips pulled back from his sharp, white teeth, and his amber eyes glowing with fierce power.

I want to stop this. I don’t know why it’s turning me on so much. He terrified poor Scott. He almost got me fired. I should be mad.

How can I be angry, when he just showed me how he feels about me?

I take a big sip of burning hot coffee, trying to reason with myself. I’m Bae’s property. This has nothing to do with me personally. He just has to make a statement to the rest of the pack that no one is allowed to touch his stuff.

I hear Bae’s step on the stairs, and I freeze up, looking straight at the tabletop so I don’t give myself away. All I want to do is jump up and wrap my arms around him. Give myself to him, completely and forever.

I can’t!

Lust and panic are colliding inside me. I can’t stand to get hurt again. It almost destroyed me last time. If it happened again, I know I’d never recover. I also know, with a deep, primal knowledge that comes from my very soul and the heart of my wolf, that I can’t resist him much longer.

“Good morning, Gina,” Bae says, his voice soft.

Since the day at the music shop, he hasn’t raised his voice once. He truly seems repentant, as if he would take it back if he could.

If only he knew it was the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.

I look up slowly, taking care to guard my expression as I smile softly. “Good morning, Bae.”

We go about our awkward morning routine, trying to share the kitchen without touching each other. We don’t talk much, but I feel like my entire body is screaming so loudly, surely he can hear it.

Touch me, take me, love me!

Sometimes, when I glance at him and he isn’t aware of it, I see a pained, defeated look on his face. His shoulders slump, and his eyes look dull.

As if he really feels bad about something.

But what?

We head out to work together. Bae usually drives me in the morning, even though the store is within walking distance. If he starts earlier, then I walk to town and try to get back home as often as possible. The only thing worse than being trapped in the house with him is being trapped in the car.

He goes in to open the gym, and I hurry into the music store. I wave to my boss, Martin, and start my day cleaning the shelves.

Even though I try to focus on my work, I keep finding excuses to go to the front of the store. Bae’s gym is really not far away, and both shops have wide, tall front windows.

I watch Bailey shed his jacket and shift heavy boxes from one end of the store to the other. His muscles bulge as he leans over to grab the packages. I’m so entranced, I almost drop the cleaning rags I’m holding. My heart flutters a little, and I turn around, determined to go back to work.

I manage to distract myself in the back corners for a short while, only to find myself back at the front windows again. Now Bae is demonstrating some weights for a client, using the strength in his whole body to lift and flick the bar balanced by the heavy discs.

He is so fucking gorgeous.

Somewhere, deep inside, I’m ashamed of myself. How can I want him so much after everything he’s done to me? It doesn’t make any sense.

Love never does.

Is that what this is? Love? I don’t even know.

Luckily, some customers come in and distract me. I make a conscious effort to forget about Bae while I talk to a mother and her two kids about sheet music, drums, and guitars.

As they leave, my eyes sneak back towards the window again. I can’t help it—all this time, I’ve been carefully making myself not look, so of course, now I can’t stop myself.

Just as I turn right towards the window, I see the bright flash of Bae’s hair as he turns away from the window and strides towards the back of the store.

Wait… was he watching me?

I stand there, my stomach bubbling with conflicting emotions. Has he been staring at me all day, just like I’m staring at him?

Don’t be ridiculous.

The door jingles, and I smile with relief to see my old friend Veronica. She wraps me in a warm hug, and we go out the back for a cup of tea and a quick catch-up. I had a lot more friends here than I ever realized. Every single one of them has been dropping by to make sure I feel welcome.

Except Scott.

I grin, trying to hold in a chuckle. It shouldn’t be funny.

But it is.

After Veronica leaves, I spend the rest of the day serving customers and staying away from the front windows. I don’t want to spend my day torturing myself by looking at him, but I also don’t want to know if he’s staring at me or not.

Don’t get your hopes up.

Bae made it pretty clear more than once that he didn’t find me attractive. Why should I believe he’s changed his mind?

The memory of our kiss comes back to me, making my lips tingle and my blood run hot. I close my eyes, falling into the memory, the sensory overload of being in Bae’s arms and feeling the lust taking us both over.

“You okay, Gina?” Martin’s voice cuts through my thoughts, bringing me back to reality.

“Yes, I’m fine,” I say quickly. “Just thinking.”

“Looked like you might have been about to faint,” he says, showing real concern.

“I’m okay, thank you,” I say, meaning it. He’s not just my boss; he’s become a good friend, too.

“How about you head off early?” Martin suggests. “It’s almost closing time, anyway. I can close up.”

“Are you sure?” I ask, feeling bad that I was having an erotic fantasy and Martin genuinely thinks I’m unwell.

“Of course.” Martin waves a hand at me. “Scoot. Get some rest.”

Getting home early for a rest sounds like a great idea. I thank Martin and grab my things, promising him I’ll take care of myself.

The crisp, cool air hits me in the face as I swing the door open and hurry down the street. I wrap my scarf around my neck and take a deep breath, loving the feel of the chill air stinging my cheeks.

“Hey there,” a deep voice sounds from right beside me. “Care if I walk you home, cutie?”

My good mood shatters and falls to pieces, replaced by a tense note of excitement. I didn’t even see Bae catch up to me, and it’s giving me a head rush that he actually chased me down just to walk me home.

“Don’t you need to get the car?” I ask.

He shrugs. “I can jog back for it. I wanted to walk with you.”

My throat closes as my brain collapses in on itself. I’m stuck between my current feelings for Bae and this being my prime fantasy every single day of my life as a teenager.

“Did you have a good day?” Bae asks.

I look over at him. He’s watching me closely, as if he really cares about the answer. I almost make a crack about Scott, but stop myself just in time.

“Yes, I had a good day.” I smile at him, and he smiles back. For just a moment, there is real warmth between us.

“I could make it really good,” he says, his voice deepening and taking on a light, teasing tone. My stomach flutters with excitement, but at the same time, my chest tightens with fear.

“Yeah? How?” I ask, my voice coming out harder than I intended.

“Just give me a few minutes,” Bae murmurs. “I promise you won’t regret it.”

I look over at him, slowing down just a little. I want to shut him down, but his bright mischief is just too hard to resist. I’m sick of holding back, and I just can’t help myself.

“Really, tiger?” I say, raising an eyebrow. “A few moments? Is that all you’ve got?”

A flash of true happiness runs across his features, but he holds it in, keeping the light, teasing tone and exaggerated sultry look.

“Well, maybe a few moments of me is all you can take,” he grins. “But I’m sure we can condition you into greater fitness.”

“Isn’t that your tagline?”

“For the gym and for me, babe.”

“Where does a girl get fitter? At your gym, or in your bed?”

“Both,” he says softly.

We’re almost home now, almost standing on the lawn. He stops, reaching out and holding my arms gently as he turns me to face him.

“Gina,” he whispers. I can’t stand the way he’s looking at me. The intensity of his gaze, the heat in his touch. It can’t be a lie.

He wants me.

“So, why then,” I begin, my voice so soft even I can barely hear it, “if you want me so bad, why did you reject me in front of the whole damn school?”

Bae seems to freeze in place. His hands grip my arms a little tighter, and his mouth twists.

“I have to… I mean, I can’t…” Bae looks away from me, staring at the ground as he lets out a huge sigh. He doesn’t let go of me, and when he looks up, his big, pale brown eyes are shimmering with emotion.

“Gina, I’m so, so sorry.”

What?

The words hit me so hard, I can barely think. My entire world has just been shaken and tumbled upside down.

“What?” My voice comes out in a low croak.

“I am so incredibly sorry,” Bae says.

He can’t be lying—there is a look in his gold eyes that I’ve never seen before. His hands press against me gently but firmly, as if he has to imprint his words onto my skin.

“I was an idiot. A total, complete fool.” His voice is gaining strength now. “I rejected you because I was afraid—afraid people would think less of me. I followed the crowd, too young, stupid and arrogant to realize I should be the one leading it.”

He leans forward, almost close enough to kiss.

“I am sorry,” he says again. “I couldn’t believe it when you left town. I didn’t realize how much I meant to you—”

“Bailey,” a loud, clear voice cracks through the air, breaking the moment.

“Carson?” Bae asks, confused. We both look over to see Carson standing by the curb, watching us.

How long has he been there?

“There’s a meeting of the elders,” Carson says crisply. He looks us both over as if he disapproves of us fighting in the street.

“But—” Bae reaches for me.

“We need you now, alpha,” Carson says softly. “There is important news.”

Bae gives me one last, long, tortured look, then follows Carson. He has to follow his duty—I know that. The pack always has to come first.

I just stand there in the street, my heart trapped in the past. In a prison I’m not sure I’ll ever be free of.