Page 137 of Arrogant Bastard
If I wanted him gone, I could have made it happen, but that isn’t what I want. I want him to stay.
This is the consequence, but I’m not a victim.
I chose this. That’s what I have to remember.
“Cat.” Caden’s voice echoes through the hallway.
An unwelcome surge of hope and relief flood my system, but I ignore it and keep on walking.
Fast footsteps behind me, and then he’s grabbing my arm and swinging me around. “Wait, please.”
I yank my arm away, irrationally disheartened when he lets me go. In a clipped tone, I ask, “What?”
“Can we talk?” He reaches out like he means to touch me but drops his hand back to his side.
“About what?” I cross my arms.Why do I have to want him so bad?
He searches my expression. “Meredith is gone.”
“Okay.” All the things we could talk about, and he picks the worst subject. “Congratulations.”
I start walking again.
“Wait.”
I spin back around. “What, Caden? What do you want me to say?”
“I just…” His brow furrows. “Wanted you to know I took care of her.”
I snap, because he’s so dense. “Do you want some sort of a medal?”
“No.” He shoves his hands into his pockets. “I thought you should know I’m cleaning up the mess I made.”
I’m in no mood to be kind about it. “If you hadn’t run away, there’d be no mess to deal with. If you’d been honest with me, you would have no blindside to clean up.”
“I know that.” He rakes his fingers through his hair and blows out a hard breath. Like he deserves to be frustrated. Like I’m being unreasonable. “I can’t change the past. I can only do my best to fix the present.”
I shrug. “Fine. You got rid of her. It’s got nothing to do with me.”
“It’s because of you I’m trying to change.”
“Don’t bother. It’s not going to make any difference.”
“I’m going to get you back, Catarina.”
“We’re through.” I glare at him. “You’d best accept it and leave me alone.”
“No.”
My brows rise. “No?”
“No.” He points a finger at my chest. “I’m not going to prove you right.”
“Don’t talk to me unless it’s about work.” I turn my back on him and start walking. “Goodbye, Caden.”
Caden
That…did not go great.
