69. Chapter Sixty-Nine

Chapter Sixty-Nine

Beth

T he walk home passes in a blur. All I can think about is getting away from Jack, and the rest of those guys I've been crushing on for the past couple of days. I should have known they were trouble from the second I walked in on Enzo and Arrow.

I thought they were different from all the other guys out there.

They made me feel safe, and they made me feel wanted.

I haven't felt that way in such a long time.

My chest gets tight thinking about Rourke. I loved him when we were together. Finding out none of that was real shattered my trust and broke my heart into a million pieces.

I can't go through that all over again.

Especially not with four guys.

That might actually kill me.

I unzip the pocket on my purse outside the apartment door, fingers fishing for my key and not finding it.

"What the hell?" I'm sure I put it back after I used it this morning.

A cough from my right side makes me turn.

I find Rourke standing there at the top of the staircase, something small and shiny in his extended hand.

"You dropped this when you were heading out this morning," he explains.

"So, you have been stalking me, then."

"I wouldn't call it that."

"Yeah, well, that's because you're delusional."

I take a step closer and snatch it from his fingers, pleasantly surprised when he doesn't use it as an excuse to grab me. It's the only nice surprise I've ever gotten from him.

"I'm not delusional. I'm in love."

"Good for you, now get lost before I call the cops to haul you away."

I move the key into my other hand so I can grab my phone out of my purse quickly.

"You need to stay away from that pack."

I frown at him. "You don't get to tell me what to do."

He sighs. "They're bad news, Beth. They're not good enough for you."

"What the hell is this, Rourke? Why are you here? We've got nothing left to say to each other."

"I found out what happened to you," he confesses. "It made me so fucking angry. I should have been around to make sure no one could hurt you."

I blink at him. "No. We have nothing to do with each other, and that isn't changing. You shouldn't be here. You broke up with me, you asshole. You don't get to just decide you're taking that back, or whatever the hell this is. We're done. Finished. You get what that means, right?"

He takes a breath. "It means I don't get to be with my one true mate. I understand. It doesn't mean I can just walk away. Not while you need me."

Oh God.

He's pulling out that bullshit line again.

What is it with these guys?

Do they think claiming we're "true mates" makes it impossible to turn them down?

I'm starting to think that term was made up to give guys an easy way to score with women who don't know it's a lie.

"I'm not your "true mate" or your girl or anything . You're just some guy I dated in high school, before you showed me how much of an asshole you really always were. Now, leave before I call the police."

He moves closer and my heart races as he looms over me.

I always used to stare into those dark blue eyes before he kissed me.

I never once doubted the way he looked at me, never saw anything deceitful there.

He still gazes at me like I'm the most beautiful girl in the world.

"Do what you have to do," he tells me. "I'm not going anywhere."

He moves back and sinks down the wall, sitting there looking up at me.

"I'll be right out here until you need me."

"I won't need you. Not now, not ever."

He shrugs. "Then I won't have much to do."

Ugh. He's so frustrating.

I unlock Catherine's apartment door. He'll leave if I'm not out here where he can bother me.

God, I hope he leaves . I seriously don't want my sister to find out about him.

I step inside and close the door, locking it quickly and checking out the peephole.

"I'm still here!" he calls out, like he knows exactly what I'm doing.

"I still don't need you!" I call back, before I leave the hallway.

My phone is starting to make some noise in my hand as I walk into my bedroom.

I put my key away and set my purse down before I look through my messages.

Secret's asking how I'm doing and if I want to come over for lunch or dinner sometime.

Tammy's not shutting up about wanting to move into my dorm room.

I see messages from Gio, and I don't know if I want to open them.

I make a quick decision and cross my fingers that I'm not doing the wrong thing.

I hit the call button and hold the phone to my ear.

Secret picks up in a few rings. "Beth, hey! How are you?"

"Hi Secret," I start. "I have some questions about the whole true mates thing …"

I hope my friend has the answers I need, because I feel like I'm going out of my mind.