Page 150 of Johnny

the fuck up and for once in your life choose something.”

I just stare at him. “Choose you, you mean?”

He lets out a breath and in that moment he softens, if a man like Johnny Boston is even capable of

being soft. He, at the very least, relaxes and lets go of my wrist.

Both his hands come up to my cheeks and he holds me like that. Our eyes locked.

And then he kisses me.

I struggle in it for a moment. Refusing to kiss him back. Refusing to let him control me like this. I

will not allow him to wind me up and then twirl me out of it with a goddamned kiss.

But his mouth—that hard mouth that just spilled out all those harsh words—softens. His lips part

and he pulls back just a little. Just enough that our top lips are barely touching.

He presses his forehead against mine and stares down at me. “Just choose,” he whispers. “Yes or

no. I don’t really care. I just need an answer.”

I pull back farther, so done with this asshole. “You don’t really care. That’s the first true thing I’ve

heard all year.”

He pushes me away and walks forward as I fall sideways into the mattress. But I catch myself and

scramble across the bed to cut him off at the doorway. I stand in front of it with outstretched arms, palms planted on either side of the doorjamb. “Fuck you if you think you’re walking out.”

“Oh, now you want me to stay?” He laughs. “Figures. Just more reacting from Megan. Yet another

example of her victimhood.”

“What the fuck is your problem?”

His hands drop to my hips. And my tank top has ridden up a little with the act of blocking the

doorway, so his fingertips find bare flesh. He doesn’t grip me hard, just barely touches me, and this

makes a chill run up my spine.

“My problem?” he whispers. “My problem is you, Megan. And your inability to make up your

mind. So here. I’ll help you out a little.” And then one hand comes off my hip and his fingertips find

the latch of the pocket door, forcing me to drop my arms as he pulls it closed behind me. “There,” he

says. “I made your choice. But going forward I will expect more from you. Because that’s the kind of

asshole I am.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN - JOHNNY

Megan lets out a long breath and looks at her feet. “Hey,” I say, tipping her chin back up with my

finger. “Look at me.”