Page 33 of Savage for You
Montana
“I’m so sorry.”
That’s all I hear when my breath catches, and I gasp. It’s hard to breathe. My chest is tightening up.
I know what he’s sorry about.
“Not again. This cannot be happening to me again.” I shake my head. “Put. Me. Down.”
“No. You’re going to listen to me. The ‘I'm sorry’ isn't about what you think it is.”
I fidget in his grasp because this cannot be happening to me again. He walks over to the couch and sits me on his lap. I’m trying to move but he’s holding onto me like I’m his lifeline.
“Please, Montana. Please just listen to me, before you get it in your head that I’m anything like your ex.”
“Aren’t you?!” I snap. “Let. Me. Go.”
“Baby, I’m going to let that one slide because you’re pissed off—as you should be. But next time, I’m going to spank your ass red til you let me explain.”
I purse my lips, roll my eyes and cross my arms over my chest which pushes my breast higher. I huff, waving my hands to signal for him to continue.
“Baby, please look at me.” When I turn my head, I have tears in my eyes.
He lowers his forehead to mine as a lone tear falls down my cheek. His thumb slowly pushes it away from my skin.
“I know you’re upset. But before you say anything, let me explain.”
“Fine, you have five minutes.”
“Addison stopped me after practice. She asked if I could go to her apartment and help her put together a bookshelf. She said her dad was supposed to come over last weekend, but he didn’t. So, as her friend, I went to help. I thought she knew what it was between us. I thought she knew that I didn’t see her as more than just a friend. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for not seeing it earlier.”
I just stare at him, no words forming in my throat.
“I figured.” I roll my eyes and mumble.
“She said she was ordering pizza, and we could watch a movie, which isn’t out of the norm for us. When you texted me about watching the scary movie, she asked who it was, and I told her it was you. She got upset and started saying things that made me uncomfortable, and then she straddled my lap and kissed me. I pushed her off of me and she fell to the ground. I didn’t want her to do that. I promise you, baby. I told her to stay the fuck away from both of us.”
The little knot in my chest loosens. “What did she say? You said she said things that made you uncomfortable. So?”
“Baby, can we just drop it?”
“No.” I cross my arms over my chest.
He sighs and answers, “She called you fat. And, said that someone like me didn’t belong with someone like you.”
I laugh. Laugh. He’s looking at me like I’m crazy. I guess I do look crazy, laughing during such a serious conversation. What I wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall when he dropped her.
“You dropped her on her ass,” I say through my laughter.
I try to compose myself, and start talking again, “W-what did you say back to her?”
“I said that you’re not fat. That I love your curves and that you have more heart in your pinky finger than she has in her whole body. I told her that even if I hadn’t met you, she still wouldn’t have had a chance. I also said that she tried to use me, basically telling me that she was my best friend to get me to fall in love with her. Then I left and came right here. I just wanted to be with you.”
“So, then why are you sorry?”
“I’m sorry for not listening to Xander and Talon. I really didn’t think she liked me. I honestly thought she wanted to be just friends. I never gave her the impression that I was into her more than being her friend.”
“I get that. Thank you for being open and honest with me. I appreciate that more than you will ever know. Now, I think it’s time that I share with you a little of my past.” I blow out a breath. I know it's time I open up to him more. He’s been so transparent with me. I go to move off his lap, but he doesn’t let me. “I want to talk to you about something.”