The Checklist (Explicit Version)

Chapter 20

I pushed him away from Althea. He stumbled but quickly caught himself from falling before he spun around. His eyes narrowed challengingly until he noticed who he was standing in front of. I didn't need to be humble. I knew I was big, and seeing how the man became white, he smartly took a step back.

Huffing a breath, I turned to Althea with a glare, but she's perfected her attitude. She kept chatting the ginger—who was now side-eyeing me, his fear extremely evident now. I hid my pleased smirk, just as Althea laid a hand on his shoulder.

I stiffened. The ginger stiffened, as if preparing himself to run. Althea smiled sweetly.

"Ignore him. He has insecurity issues and trouble letting go, but he's just a big ol' softie. When he isn't a backstabbing piece of shit." She covered her mouth and giggled. If it wasn't the most fucking adorable sound, I would have defended myself in time.

The ginger was clearly on edge, but Althea's words soothed him—slightly. He still watched me as if I was seconds away from knocking him off his feet. And he wasn't wrong; if she wasn't here.

I sat on her other side while glaring heatedly at everyone, wondering the entire time how I got myself here. How the fuck she got herself burrowed deep into my skin. Her silent treatment shouldn't have affected me. I never cared for people, so having this short, crazy, rambling princesa ignore me should have been a blessing.

Instead, it felt like there's been something stuck in my throat for over a week. As if something wanted to come out of my mouth every time I saw her.

She surprised me when she twisted her stool and faced me, her Bambi eyes all wide and innocent. "Isn't this nostalgic?" She laughed, flattening a hand on the table. "I mean, I'm drunk because of a man. Again. And you're here. Again. But I guess you and your brother are related. Giving me reasons to drink."

I caught a flash of hurt in her eyes before she turned away from me. My first instinct was to feel angry; at myself and at her, because she went low enough to compare me to Remi. But as her words sank in, I fucking hated myself more because I did the one thing I swore I'd never do. Make her cry.

That day was so vivid. Coming back with my coffee to see Althea. Hearing her accusation. Chasing after her. Seeing her goddamn eyes turn red. Tears stain her cheeks. Tears I brought to her.

Familiar with how Althea sounded when she was drunk, I sat upright for the following thirty minutes while she spoke to the ginger. Flirted, more specifically. She seemed to be more aggressive in her efforts, but I kept myself to rooted in my seat, reminding myself that she wanted to piss me off. And she was, because she was mine.

But she wanted to flirt? Let her fucking flirt. I'd be the only one she went home with.

So, I let her go on with her charade while soberly staring at the ginger over her head. Seeing him seconds away from shitting himself had me almost unclenching my fists in amusement.

At one point, he asked for his bill before turning to Althea. "I should go. It's getting late."

"Let me come with you," she said loudly, standing up. Only to end up rocking backward from the abrupt movement.

I didn't think before wrapping an arm around her waist. And touching her for the first time in almost two weeks... fuck, I wanted to lay her on the ground and breathe her in.

I had a moment of peace until Althea realized I'd grabbed her. She tried shoving herself out of my grip but ended up stumbling sideways. This time, I shot up from my seat and took her arm before she collided to a table.