Chapter 10
WILDER
WildMisfit: Good morning, again! How is your day going so far?
I look up from my phone and watch Cat reach for hers, confirming my suspicion. What surprises me is the smile that instantly grows on her face.
Her head is down, her long sleek hair cascading around her face as she taps into her phone. As always, she looks stunning. She’s not wearing a turtleneck today, and I’m positive it’s because her jackass husband hasn’t been around to beat on her. The last marks he left must’ve faded and she’s able to wear what she wants to wear. Today it’s a long black dress that matches the color of her hair. She even wore lipstick today, which is new. Maybe Mayor Jackass doesn’t allow her to wear it. Wouldn’t surprise me. He’s going to rue the day my suspicions are confirmed.
I keep watching her, taking in the most beautiful thing about her—the sheer happiness on her face. She’s glowing. If she could just find the courage to leave her husband, I believe she’d have this same zest for life every single day. Yet, for some reason, she stays. I’m just not sure why…yet.
CatEyes: One of the best days I’ve had in a very long time.
Her words make me smile and I can’t help but wonder if it has anything to do with last night, or this morning.
WildMisfit: It’s still so early. What’s got you in such a good mood?
I lift my head again, expecting to find her typing into her phone, but instead, I catch her watching me. Does she know I know? I doubt it, but she will soon.
Her head drops again, her fingers gliding over the screen of her phone before another message comes through.
CatEyes: Have you ever had someone come into your life and rearrange it in the best way possible?
She has to be talking about me, about us.
WildMisfit: I have, in fact. Tell me more about this person.
I might be fishing here. No…I’m definitely fishing. This is my chance to find out exactly how she feels about me.
CatEyes: It’s someone I shouldn’t want to spend time with, but I find myself looking forward to the next time I’ll see them. They are just easy to talk to. For the first time in a while, I was able to let my guard down and be myself.
An instant smile grows on my face because I know exactly what she means—I feel it, too. I love everything I learned about her and how close we got in just one night. It was like our souls were twin flames coming together.
WildMisfit: Sounds special. I bet this person feels the exact same way. Care to tell me who it is?
CatEyes: Not a chance.
I see her smirking as she clicks around on her computer now, feeling like she’s getting away with playing this little game. I love it, but I also don’t want to lie to her. It’s taken a while to get to where we are and her trust in me is still growing.
WildMisfit: Can I guess?
CatEyes: You’re welcome to try. Doesn’t mean I’ll tell you.
And here it goes. No going back now.
WildMisfit: Can you see this person right now?
As she lifts her head, our gazes lock and a jolt of recognition passes between us. This time, I don’t look away as I type back to her. Flashing her a wink when I lift my phone slightly, I feel a sense of relief flood through me as her secret identity is revealed.
It’s out there now. Cat has been caught.
Suddenly, her eyes go wide and a deep blush fills her cheeks. She looks away in an instant and it's the reaction I suspected. In an attempt to ease her humiliation, I send her one more message.
WildMisfit: Can I see you again tonight?
Her nostrils flare and she tucks her hair behind her ears nervously just before the bell rings. She lurches at the sound, chest rising and falling rapidly. I don’t want to make her anxious, but I crave to spend every moment possible with her.
Without even dismissing the class, she stands up, frazzled as her hands smooth down her dress, and she paces small steps in the front of the room.
I don’t get up, I just sit here waiting for everyone to exit so we can talk.
Elodie stops in the doorway before leaving, her cautious gaze moving from Mrs. Jenkins to me. Eyes frozen on mine, she shakes her head in a small movement, expressing her disapproval. It sort of pisses me off because I’ve never once passed judgment on her dating Rome—my twin and her stepbrother. In fact, I helped them work their shit out.
Mrs. Jenkins, noticing her suspicious glances, turns to face the window. I’m certain it’s because she can’t look Elodie in the eye. But the minute Elodie is out the door, she’s walking steadfastly toward it. In a swift motion, she closes it and clicks the lock.
Still facing the door, her chin drops to her chest. “How long have you known?” she says quietly, but loud enough for me to hear.
In two seconds flat, I’m at her side, palm pressed to the door she’s still in front of. My body molds with hers as her scent floods my senses. “Does it matter?” I whisper in her ear, letting my breath fan over her neck.
A puff of air escapes her. “Does it matter?” She turns to face me, the look on her face not one I was expecting. This is a good thing. This is a moment of clarity. Why is she pissed?
“Do you know how humiliating this is?” Tears well in her eyes as she throws her arms out wide and I take a step back even though I want more than anything to pull her close and wrap my arms around her. “You should have told me you knew. Instead, you just kept on pretending you had no idea who CatEyes was.”
I shake my head, slightly pissed off that she would think I would keep this a secret for long. The only reason I did it in the first place was because I needed to know how she felt in case this scared her off. “I did tell you. Just now.”
She looks away again, swallowing hard. “You should have told me right away, or at the very latest, last night.” She wipes at her cheeks then faces me. “So how long have you known?”
“Hardly a full day. It’s not a big deal, Cat. You don’t have to be embarrassed.” I reach for her arm but she steps back, eyes darting around the room nervously.
“No!” she blurts out. “You can’t touch me. We can’t talk anymore. This has to end.” My heart cracks in my chest as confusion fills me. Why is she doing this again?
“This doesn’t have to be complicated. I like talking to you and you like talking to me, right?”
“Yes. I mean, no.” She pulls at her hair as she begins to pace in front of me. “It doesn’t matter what I like. If we keep going like this, we’ll hurt not only ourselves but so many other people. I’m doing this for you, Wilder. To protect you.”
I scoff. She’s doing this because she’s scared. “I don’t need, nor want, your protection.” I chuckle, but there is no humor in the sound. “Besides, we’re just talking, Cat.”
“Don’t call me that,” she says softly. “It’s Mrs. Jenkins. Not Cat. Not Mrs. J. Only Mrs. Jenkins.”
I shake my head as pain slices through me. “Why are you doing this?”
She looks into my eyes and for the first time, I literally feel the pain I see. “You don’t know what he’s capable of.”
A single tear trails down her cheek and I reach out to gently brush it away with my thumb, feeling the dampness and warmth of her skin.
Then she breaks down and I throw my arms around her, pulling her body close to mine. “You don’t have to face this alone. Let me be there for you.”
She takes a deep breath, breathing me in as I remind her that she is safe here. I will keep her safe.“I’m scared. Not just for myself. For you too.”
Those words speak volumes. It’s the revelation I needed to keep bringing her walls down. I was right all along. Cat’s in danger and she needs me just as much as I need her. No matter how much distance she tries to put between us, there’s this undeniable pull I can’t seem to shake.
“I’ve got you,” I tell her as my fingers run through her hair. “I need to see you again. Assuming you want to see me, too?” It’s a question more than a statement because I don’t want to pressure her, but every second we’re apart feels like too long.
She lifts her head from my shoulder, our eyes beaming into one another's as she nods. “I do.”
The corner of my mouth tugs up and I lean down to brush a kiss over her forehead, rewarding her for her honesty. “Name the time and place and I’ll be there.”
She closes her eyes when I pull back, then looks up at me the same way she did last night. No longer with fear, but that joy I love seeing inside her. “Eight o'clock at the guesthouse. Not a minute sooner.”
“You got it.” I go to lean in to kiss her cheek, but a sudden pound on the door has her jumping out of my arms. Her fingers swipe frantically under her eyes. “Go sit…” She stops herself. “No. Go to the closet. Dammit,” she mutters. “Just act cool.”
I can’t help but laugh. “It’s fine. Just open the door. We’re good.”
Straightening her back, she clicks the lock and pulls the door open, coming face to face with three students for her next class. She steps aside, allowing them in.
“Looks like you’re set,” I say to her as I wiggle the door handle. “It was just a sticky lock. You shouldn’t have any more problems with it, but if you do, let the office know and they can have maintenance take a look.”
A smile creeps on her face. “Thanks, Wilder.”
I waggle my brows as I step past her. Once I’m out the door, I spin around and look at her. “See ya later.”
Gripping the doorframe, she watches as I walk away. I know because I can't stop turning around to look at her. The smile on my face has never felt more real.
Fuck. I’ve got it bad.