Rejected

• TWENTY THREE•

"She was kinda out of line too Duchess."

I shook my head, I felt like shit. "What each couple does is between them and I had no right to talk about her relationship so openly."

"She talked about ours."

I smiled weakly 'ours...our relationship' seemed a little premature, and yet, oddly...it felt right.

"W-what if she tells Braxton and he gets upset with you for not keeping your mate in chceck."

He chuckled a little, "I don't think anyone could get my mate into check...but that's one of the things that drive me wild about her." He said as he kissed me.

"I'm serious Patrick, I don't want you to get in trouble because of me." I said worried now.

"We're good Duchess." He said, "even if she tells Brax there isn't anything he can do or say because you aren't a part of the pack."

I nodded and we sat there together a while longer, I had grown comfortable with my back against his chest. I couldn't see him but...oddly enough I could feel him, and not just physically. I guess what Vance and Elise had said was true, being around Patrick woke up everything inside of me...made me hyper aware of his presence and this weird need to be touched by him.

I mean yes I've never really been shy when it comes to guys...but with him I not only want to hold his hand, have his arms around me, or lips on mine...I almost crave them uncontrollably.

Thankfully he's all too willing to oblige me.

After a moment longer I continued to replay my conversation with Harper in my head, and things just weren't adding up. Harper is so docile and sweet...there was something else going on or one of them isn't telling me the truth...unfortunately I knew my best friend better than my mate, despite the fact that I want to give him the benefit of the doubt; I knew she wouldn't dislike him without good reason.

"Tell me the truth Patrick...why does Harper hate you so much?" I asked as I turned slightly, I needed to see him.

"Because when we were younger we went to school together, I liked her back then."

Hearing this I actually (surprisingly) grew really jealous and I began to pull away from him so I wouldn't be touching him anymore.

"Not like I like you Duchess," he said softly as he reached out and pulled me back over to him. "No one could ever compare to you." He added sweetly as he placed a kiss on my shoulder.

I had to admit I like hearing that he likes me more than anyone else.

"Anyways, I was a jackass."

"You're gonna have to emphasize Blue Eyes, I know Harper well and I know she wouldn't just hate someone just to hate them."

He sighed heavily. "While I'm sure me sleeping around didn't help with her impression of me, I have to admit that her hatred for me goes way past all of that...like I said, I found myself drawn to her when we were kids...and as you may know, Harper isn't exactly social...so when I tried to get her to notice me she never would, but like I mentioned I was a jackass, I wanted her to notice me by any means necessary...and those means meant I resulted in bullying her."

"You were her bully?" I asked in disbelief, "a girl you liked didn't noticed you so you basically willed yourself into her line of view even if it was at her own expense and humiliation."

He nodded, "like I said was an idiot and I've regretted it every since...it started off with a rude name...then slight comments here and there...but as the years progressed so did the actions, and it wasn't just me either...other kids joined in because they could, she was an easy target."

I was getting pissed but I could see the shame written on his face so I felt kinda bad...this mate shit was so confusing.

"She'd have her books knocked out of her hands, they'd corner her in the hall, push her in the halls...by this time I stepped back and stopped messing with her, but I also did nothing to stop the others either, it got so bad that some of the girls would shove her around and steal her stuff."

"So one of my best friends hates my new boyfriend." I sighed.

"I know you want to take your time, but maybe if we just told Harper."

I shook my head, "I was fixing to...but what good's that going to do...it won't suddenly change the fact that you are and always will be her childhood tormentor and I am a horrible friend."

"You're a good friend Duchess, don't question that." He said as he hugged me from behind once again.

I rubbed his arms in a thankful fashion, I liked that he was trying to comfort me but I had a lot to think about with Harper, I knew I had to apologize to her and I knew he was also right, I needed to tell her about us.

"So um...I know you just got invited to go away for the weekend and all," he said slightly nervous now.

I turned so I could face him.

"I was talking to my mom yesterday before I picked you up for the movie...anyways, looks like her and her fiancé Sean are going to get their marriage license and this weekend they're having their reception...nothing too over the top, more of a backyard soirée really."

I knew that was his way of asking me to go, but I wanted to hear him officially ask me.

"Aww well good for them," I smiled "you'll have to give your mother and her new husband my best."

He shook his head and smiled, "I was wondering if maybe you'd be my date?"

I looked at him and pretended to think it over before I nodded my head in agreement, "of course, what are mates for?"