Hotshot (The Bennett Brothers 1)

“Don’t you ever say that again. Nothing about me makes sense anymore without you. It took me too long to realize that. You are the beautiful one in this situation. Everything about you is so pure, so genuine, so blinding. It’s hard to breathe sometimes when I think about a future without you.”

“Sasha’s not going to give up, Shaw. If she wants you, she’s going to take measures to be in your life.”

“I can’t stand her, Bizzy. I may not know exactly what happened all those years ago between you and her, but I swear, if I’d had a clue, I never would have given her the time of day. Shit, I would have made her life miserable for saying one crass word to you. You have to believe me. Only one other time in my life have I felt this helpless, and that’s when Nick was diagnosed.”

Silence hangs in the air, and I know he’s telling me the truth.

“I believe you. Still, I’m going to need some time to think.”

“Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.”

“I’ll call you tomorrow. Today, I need to sleep.”

He doesn’t let me go, even as I wiggle to free myself from his hold. His chest vibrates as he starts laughing.

“You must not have heard me. I?

?m not going anywhere, meaning not leaving, not letting you out of my sight.”

“You’re leaving so I can sleep, cry, scream, and try to wrap my head around the fact that my boyfriend is having a baby with my high school nemesis, who incidentally found a way to continue her adolescent torture and bullying throughout my college years. A campus of twenty-five thousand and I still had to endure the wrath of Sasha Crane.”

“That’s exactly why I’m staying. Sleep, cry, scream, anything you want, but you’ll do it with me.”

The weight of the last few days and now the last few minutes comes crashing down, and I stop struggling. Then I think about a future with Sasha Crane in my life, sharing a child with Shaw.

This is really going to piss her off.

“She’s not going to deal with us very well.”

“No, she’s not.”

“Let’s hope she’s let go of some of her aggressive tendencies. Maybe she’s matured?”

“Don’t count on it. She’s a spoiled bitch used to getting what she wants. This time, though, she’s not going to touch you.”

“Everything is going to change.”

He slides us down until I’m on my back and he’s hovering above me, one hand moving to caress my cheek. His eyes shine with so much love and torture at the same time, I feel my own start to pool with tears.

“Everything may change. This isn’t going to be easy, by any means. I’m a selfish bastard to ask you to stay, but I can’t live without you. The only way I can get though this is to have you by my side. So stick with me, Lizbeth, and trust me to protect you. I’ve said it already, but losing you isn’t an option.”

“I still need time, Shaw.”

“You can have your time with me glued to your side.”

I can’t stop the giggle that escapes, which turns into a full scale laughing fit. He cracks a small smile, but it looks pained, as if he’s waiting for me to turn hysterical. Instead, I twist into him, and remember why I’m in love with his possessive, protective, and bossy ass.

Even with my heart shattered and my future in absolute shambles, I let him hold me.

“Are you really okay?” Nicky takes my hand and leads me to the elevator, waving to the kids still screaming his name until the doors close us in.

“Stop asking me that.”

“I’ll stop asking when I’m convinced, which is not now. You still look a little pale to me.”

“Jeez, thanks. Way to boost my already fragile self-esteem.” I pinch the only centimeter of skin I can on his bulging bicep.

“OW!” he yelps. “That hurt!”