Page 84 of Yours, Finally

I nodded and put my hands on my hips, fingers splayed on my trousers.

"Please don't make a big deal out of it," she added.

I squinted and nodded again.

"I got an email from Andrew. From a different account than the one I blocked."

My jaw clenched— instantly. My fingers twitched on my hips, in an effort to curl into automatic fists.

"What did he want?" The voice that came out of me was uncommon; deep and dry and short.

Vi's frown remained in her brow, and her eyes narrowed. She had heard my tone, and was suspicious of it.

"Same as usual," she said. "He seems bent on getting a chance to explain himself. I'm pretty sure he thinks it's a romantic gesture."

"Don't give him a chance."

She jarred her arms, fists on the rounds of her hips. "I won't, but not because you're telling me not to. I won't give him another chance because I don't want to."

I took slow steps to her, determined. I stopped when I was close enough to have to look down at her.

"Why don't you want to?"

Her eyes didn't waver. She gazed at me, her stubborn chin up. "I decided against him a while ago, Jake. No need to be jealous."

"It's not about being jealous, but the guy was an asshole. Just because he sent you flowers he thinks he can ask for another chance?"

"He also lied to Stephanie to try to get a private meeting with Max, which is the number one thing that ruined his chances with me."

"That further proves he's an undeserving jerk. Should we get a restraining order?"

She scoffed, but her eyes glinted. She thought it was funny. "No. He's not a dangerous guy. Just a sore loser."

"How do you know?"

"Jake." Her voice was firm, my name strict for the first time on her lips. "I don't need you to fight my battles for me. I just need you to be by my side and cheer for me."

I pursed my lips and tapped my fingers on my hips. "And you asked me not to make a big deal of this."

"Exactly." A slow smile appeared on her mouth. She took a deep breath, and put her hands on my chest. "Though jealousy makes you look cute."

I smirked. "Jealousy is the least of my worries. If the guy can't take a no, then I don't want him anywhere near you."

She sighed, but the small smile continued to soften her gesture. "It's going to be okay. I'm confident. He doesn't realize that only the heroes get to make grand gestures. That those are important because it's the hero— the person we're cheering for. Andrew is making himself into the villain, and I'm not going to forget that."

"Yeah, he's the villain, but I hope you're right that he's not a dangerous one."

"Be by my side. That's all I need."

"I am."

She stepped closer to me. "Admit you're jealous"

It was my mouth's turn to slant upwards at the corners. "I never denied it. I am a little jealous. I just said that's not the point."

At that, she laughed. I snorted, and the tension I'd been harboring released.

"Was this our first fight?" I put my hands on her hips and brought us front to front.