Page 188 of By His Vow

My head is too fucked up with all the tequila, and I’m royally screwed.

“I don’t owe you anything after what you’ve done,” I state, taking a step toward the door.

I turn my back on him, and I’ve almost escaped when he speaks.

“They were just some pictures, Tatum.”

I still, anger coursing through my veins.

I don’t want to react. I shouldn’t react. But the tequila is stronger than my self-control and I spin back around, my eyes narrowing on his before I spit, “Just some photographs. Is that what you really think?”

He shrugs. He really does think that.

Nothing more than images.

Emotion creeps up my throat and tears burn my eyes.

It really meant nothing to him.

“Yeah, sure. They’re just photos,” I say sadly before turning back around so I can escape him.

I’ve already given him too much. He doesn’t need to know that I’m not just angry about how he announced our engagement, but I’m also hurt.

It’s bad enough that he has the power to hurt me at all.

I don’t want him to know that he’s done it as well.

“Tate, wait,” he calls before I manage to leave the room.

My head drops, but I don’t stop.

I can’t.

I can’t allow him to see the tears and pain in my eyes.

But he’s faster than me, and his warm hand wraps around my upper arm, stopping me from going anywhere.

Before I know what’s happening, he’s spinning me around, cupping my jaw, and tilting my head up so I have no choice but to look into his eyes.

“Baby?” he whispers, searching my eyes.

“Just leave it, King.”

His brows pinch as he continues staring at me, but he doesn’t say a word. He’s so out of his depth right now.

I try to jerk away from him, but he holds me tighter, stopping me.

“Please, just?—”

“I’m sorry,” he finally says.

My lips part to say something, but I quickly find that I have no words.

Instead, more tears flood my eyes until one finally falls free.

“Fuck, baby. I didn’t mean to?—”

“It’s okay,” I whimper.