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"You’re right, Kristen It was selfish I’ to do what I thought was best Hopefully you see that, even if you disagree with ently rested his hand on ed it off "I don’t trust you now though You lied to me You fucked Ariel Diamond You cheated onhim away but he was like a wall Instead it was rabbedon, Kristen Listen tothe hairs on the back of my neck "That is all a mistake The text you saw froullible do you think I am? What else could ityour cock," I spat The words tasted like battery acid co and pushed out of his arms He stepped forward and pulledhis persistence I kneouldn’t win a battle of wills with him so I let it pass

"She meant my surfboard The new product my company launched--which is why I went to Brazil It’s called the Shuttlecock" He articulated his words carefully but assertively

What The Fuck

The roo," I said uncertainly

"No" His voice softened and his eyes carried the tenderness they had earlier "I’ flippant in that text like she usually is It’s her personality You sa she hen you e Even she’s not that much of a trouble-maker"

A wave of embarrassment washed over me I’d run out of the restaurant upset over aRealization that my actions must’ve seemed absolutely childish to him made me pissed off At hi me That’s the stupidest naht ‘Pier Pleasure’ was pretty clever"

"That at least makes sense Shuttlecock hed "You’re right, it’s du well As you can see, people lovecock jokes"

I took a step back and folded my arms across my chest I eyed him sternly "So you didn’t have sex with Ariel?"

"No God no I haven’t even seen her since the time we ran into her on St Lucia I told you we’re just friends and have been for years I’d never cheat on you Kristen Now that would be stupid Unbelievably stupid"

My arhtened "I don’t know if I can believe you"

"It’s true There’s notto have to trust me"

"I’ve trusted you all this ti psycho, Giselle, and everything else, I don’t knohat to think What else are you hiding fro I’ll tell you"

I clenched my jaw "But I don’t even knohat to ask, Vincent You can’t do that--put the blaht questions"

"No, Kitten That’s not how Ime Kitten? Give e"

He exhaled heavily and gestured to the living room "Okay, let’s sit down on the couch, cool off, and talk"

Because ly obeyed Once ere seated, I ran through inwhat to ask There were soin I decided to start with the first question on my mind "So what happened with Giselle?"

He shifted in his seat beside e for two years Jins like arguing but it seehts every now and then It wasn’t until I saw her bruises thatthat I decided I needed to intervene I hed

"I’m sorry about what happened to your sister, but in this case you took it too far Way too far You didn’t have to break Marty’s face He wasn’t going to hurt me"

"What did he want?"

"He said he just wanted to talk"

Vincent’s eyes narrowed as he ground his teeth "I wouldn’t believe him That’s a classic trick they use He hurt you before That’s enough to establish that he’s dangerous"

"He said he was sorry and brought ize"

"You don’t know that Kristen Kurt and Bernie atching If they er"

"You don’t know either He was just extending his hand to say sorry Last tily "Why are you defending him?"

"Jesus, Vincent Can you be any an tearing again "Don’t treat me like I’m a helpless victim I can’t stand it"