Page 78 of Handle Me

“You ready?” he asked, not bothering to meet my gaze.

Clara and I shared a look.

“Uh.” I wasn’t sure what to say. Glancing at my sister, she nodded. “Sure.”

He stalked into the hallway without another word.

“What did Alexander want to talk to him about?” I asked Clara as I stood. Whatever it was had riled Anders up.

“I’ll let him tell you.” She reached for my hand and squeezed. “Try to talk him into it. It’s for the best.”

“Now you’re freaking me out.” I leaned down and gave her a hug, wondering what Anders’ new family could have done to upset him this much.

I found Anders waiting for me by the door to the royal quarters. He grabbed my hand. I practically had to run to keep up with him as we left Buckingham. Brex was waiting near the car, but as soon as we were outside, I pulled away.

“What is going on?” I demanded.

“I don’t want to talk about it. I need to get out of here,” he said cagily, his eyes shifting around the space.

I crossed my arms and glared at him. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me why you’re so angry.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It clearly does,” I argued. “Or you wouldn’t be reverting to caveman mode.”

“You want to know?” he growled.

Did I? What could have upset him this much? Alexander had a talent for pissing people off, but this was next level. I paused before finally nodding.

“I’m getting a title,” he seethed.

I blinked as I processed this. “So?”

It was the wrong thing to say. Anders threw his hands in the air, starting to curse. “Because I never wanted any of this, and now I’m being forced to be one of them.”

His words hit me like a lead weight. I wasn’t sure why I was so surprised. Maybe it was because he seemed to be getting used to the fact, or maybe because I’d been stupid enough to believe our relationship might change his mind.

“I’m one of them,” I said softly.

“I didn’t mean you.” He stepped toward me, but I backed away.

“This life that you hate—that you don’t want—is my life, Anders.” Why couldn’t he see that?

“You aren’t one of them. You’re like me.” He shook his head, his face twisting with disdain. “They don’t want us.”

Is that what he thought brought us together? A trauma bond? Not that we struggled to know where we belonged, but that we weren’t wanted at all?

“No. You don’t want them,” I corrected him, lifting my chin, even as my voice trembled. “And if you don’t want them, you don’t want me.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

ANDERS

Every word coming out of my mouth was wrong, but I couldn’t seem to shut up. Lola’s lip trembled, drawing my attention to her mouth, which caught the attention of other parts of my body. Now definitely wasn’t the time for that. I had to get her to understand where I was coming from because there was only one thing I didn’t want to walk away from: her.

My eyes met hers, and I could see her straining to hold back tears. I hadn’t wanted to hurt her, but I couldn’t force myself to stay here. “Lola, I’m sorry. Everything is messed up. I didn’t mean to make you feel that way, but I’m not sure...”

I couldn’t finish because I didn’t want to walk away and risk losing her. But I didn’t fit in here, even if she did. It was probably best to walk away, but I knew that I didn’t want to stop seeing her.