“Idiot,” Susie murmured to herself.
How could she have been so wrong about Barlow? It was her own fault. He told her quite plainly he wasn’t interested, but encouraged by what Terri told her, Susie decided to go for it.
She was sure Barlow felt something for her more than just a casual fling would warrant. For Pete’s sake – he came on this damn weekend because he was jealous at the thought of her with another guy! The way he acted toward her, he was so much more caring and tender than Allen had ever been – no wonder she thought he was interested in her. Maybe Barlow just behaved that way with all women. Maybe she really wasn’t special to him. She imagined Barlow watching TV in bed, stuffing his face with sandwiches, but instead of her by his side, it was Roxanne. Maybe he had been just as cute and wonderful with Roxanne as he was with her.
Susie shook her head. It hurt, but she didn’t regret asking him. If she hadn’t asked, she would have regretted that more… probably. Though she kind of regretted she didn’t wait and ask him tomorrow. Sharing a room might be a little awkward now.
Though, she wasn’t about to listen to his orders. Susie was on her way to speak to Helen. She downplayed her worries to Barlow because he was already about to blow. But, Susie wanted to get this damn well sorted out.
She rounded a corner and found Helen sitting in a window seat, sniveling while cradling her baby. Huh, that was easier than expected.
“Helen,” Susie snapped.
Helen sniffed. “Hush, the baby’s sleeping.”
“Oh, ah, I just came to say…”
“He loves you, you know?” said Helen in a small voice. “Doesn’t matter what I do or say, he still loves you.”
“Ah…”
“He blames me for him losing you.” Helen’s bottom lip trembled. “He hates me.”
“Well, I’m sorry to hear that.”
She glanced down at the pup in her arms, all chubby and pink and unaware of his mother’s strife.
“This little guy’s the only reason Allen even stays with me.”
Susie silently sat down next to Helen and watched the baby. He wasn’t doing anything, but he was infinitely entertaining.
“I thought I loved Allen. That’s why I slept with him.” Helen looked up at Susie. “That’s why I took him from you. I… I’m sorry.”
A twinge of sympathy assailed Susie – she didn’t like it, but it was there. “Don’t go giving yourself all the credit – Allen was the one who cheated, and you weren’t the first. He says he loves me, but I don’t think Allen will ever love anyone more than himself.”
Helen ran a finger down her pup’s button nose. “He doesn’t pay any attention to this little guy.”
That was a crime in itself because he was absolutely adorable.
“Let’s get something straight,” said Susie in a firm voice, “I do not want to join your mating.”
“I know,” she sighed. “Allen claimed you suggested it to him.”
“Douche.”
“Yep.”
“You don’t have to stay with him. If you stop acting like a bitch, I’m sure you’ll find someone better.”
Helen narrowed her eyes before sighing. “You’re lucky you have Barlow.”
Susie ignored the painful tug at her heart. “I don’t really have Barlow.”
“Please, I see the way he looks at you – he adores you. I wish a guy would look at me like that.”
Susie pressed her lips together – she didn’t want to get started on that subject.
“Did you tell the chef to use hazelnuts instead of walnuts?” blurted Susie.
Helen frowned. “No. I heard about that. I had no idea you even had an allergy.”
“And I take it you didn’t try and look me in the sauna?”
Helen gave her a look of disbelief. “Honey, if I wanted to hurt you physically, I’d use my claws.”
Susie nodded. Yes, she believed she would.
*
Had to be done thought Barlow morosely.
Did it? snapped his wolf. Mine.
No, she wasn’t his. He was not going to have a mate. He was not going to lose his mate as he lost his mother.
So to make sure he would never lose her, he was pushing her away now? Barlow winced at his own logic. No wonder his teachers never had anything good to say about him. Well, other than the fact that he managed to bring the class hamster back alive and in relatively good health. Only relatively good, because his little brother got it into his head to put the animal into his radio-controlled airplane. The hamster turned out to be a good little pilot.
But whether he was going to keep her or not, he would protect her.
He found Roxanne at the bar. She was the only one there, and given that she was weaving slightly, he figured she must have been drinking non-stop all day.
“Roxanne,” he snapped.
She looked up through hooded eyes and growled. “Hey, sexy pants – did you know that was my nickname for you? Sexy pants.”
His wolf huffed.
“Where’s your little hobbit, Suki?” she slurred.
Now, his wolf snarled.
“Susie is in our room. Roxanne…”
“I can’t believe you care about her!” she spat.
“I…”
“I see the way you look at her. You’re like a fucking puppy dog, all goo-goo eyes and big, floppy, wet tongue. Makes me sick. I mean, what does she have that I don’t have?”
Roxanne stood up and twirled around, sloshing her drink all over the floor.
He grasped her arm to get her attention and to stop her from tumbling to the ground.
“Roxanne, you stay away from Susie, do you hear me?”
“Ooh, heaven forbid I hurt your precious Susie!” she taunted.
His grip tightened as his wolf bared his fangs. “Was that you driving the car last night?”
Roxanne scrunched her nose. “Car? Last night? Where was I last night? I don’t think I was driving a car.”
“Did you lock Susie in the sauna?” he demanded.
“She got locked in a sauna! Boy, what an idiot!”
Barlow curled his lip, but he felt a sliver of relief. Roxanne could lie well enough when she wanted, but he didn’t sense a lie now. Though, that may just be because she was too drunk to realize she was lying. He really should warn her off again when she was sober.
Barlow’s wolf stood to attention as he scented someone approaching – Edward. Poor idiot – did he really believe Roxanne was the woman for him? He ought to see how awful she was.
Roxanne wrapped her arms around Barlow’s shoulders, and his first instinct was to pry her off him and push her away, but he stopped himself. Edward should witness this for himself.
“Roxanne,” he growled in warning. “You’re engaged.”
“Not for long,” she snorted. “As soon as the house sells, I’m off. Edward is useless in bed, not like you, honey.”
“That so?”
She giggled and licked his cheek and Barlow had to force himself not to shudder. She reeked of alcohol; the stench was overpowering, so much so that he missed the sweet magnolia scent that flooded the room.
Roxanne moved to try and kiss him, and he pushed her away – not too roughly, though. It was likely she would fall over given her inebriated state.
He looked up to find Edward staring at him, though without much malice. He probably already had an idea of what his fiancée was really like. But the look on Susie’s face was something else.
His wolf yowled at him.
“Susie, it’s not…”
“Doesn’t matter,” she said quickly. “I’m spending the night in Candace’s room, and I’ll get a ride back home with her.”
“Susie,” he said in a warning voice.
“No!” she snapped. “Don’t, because it doesn’t matter. We’re not a couple, so you can do what you want with whatever skank you like. Sorry, Edward,” she added.
Her gaze drifted to Roxanne who was currently trying to give her the finger. But the she-wolf was using the wrong finger, so it was more confusing than insulting.
“I’ll see you around,” she muttered and strode off.
Stop her snarled his wolf. He was going to, but surely this was better for her. Better that she hate him.
For the first time in a long while, both he and his wolf agreed about one thing - the fact that he was a complete and utter dick.