5. Jack
5
JACK
T hat night, Bunny gives me a look . I rub my hand over my eyes with a sigh. “Look, I’m sorry I got carried away. I just wasn’t going to let him get away with talking to you like that.” He still looks unhappy, his mouth twisting up as he shakes his head. A suspicion sneaks inside my mind and spins there.
“Do people get out of line like that a lot?”
He shrugs. “Not really often. But every now and then.”
I frown. “How often?”
“I dunno. Not like I keep track. Seems pointless to let assholes take up space in my head, you know? It’s just part of the job. Gotta let it roll off your back.”
“Jesus Christ,” I mutter. A look of concern flickers over his features. “I’m not upset at you. I just don’t like that you have to subject yourself to that.”
He looks insulted. “I can take care of myself.”
“I’m sure you can. Point is, you shouldn’t have to.” Actually, it’s kind of weird to realize I was proud of him for not being a pushover. Wonder if he’s upset that I frog-marched that asshole out of there this morning.
My concern is short-lived when Bunny says, “I’m glad you happened to be there, today, though. That guy just seemed like he was on a mission to be belligerent. Fucking dick.” He blinks as if he just remembered something. “Hey, where did I leave my phone, anyway?”
I snort. “Apparently on your fucking car, because it was on the side of the driveway. You’re lucky you didn’t run it over.”
He drops his head into his hands with a groan. “Ugh. I told myself I wasn’t going to do that again.”
I pin him with a stare. “ Again ?”
“I told you I was kind of bad about losing things,” he says, a little defensively.
“Oh yeah, that reminds me. Give me your phone.”
There’s a question in his eyes, but he hands it over.
“First, you need to put a damn lock on this thing —a real lock,” I add when I see him open his mouth as if to protest. “Didn’t I tell you one-two-three-four is a shit password already?”
He flushes a little and looks down. “Yeah, OK.”
I go to his security settings. “C’mere.” I hold it out for him to roll his fingertip over the sensor until it records his fingerprint.
“Thank you,” he mutters grudgingly.
“You also need to install a device locator on this and on your tablet, so if you lose one, you can at least use the other to find it.” I navigate to his app store and start browsing. “This one’s got the best reviews, and it’s compatible with your tablet’s operating system.”
When I realize Bunny’s fallen quiet, I glance up. I’m surprised to see him scowl at me. “ What ?” I ask testily.
“I don’t really like you being a bossy asshole, but you’re kind of right,” he admits in a mumble.
My first feeling is annoyance. Ungrateful brat. Then, an uncharacteristic ray of light falls over my mind. I wrap my hand around his nape and draw him towards me.
“That’s half the reason I like to do it,” I tell him with a little grin. I don’t know what’s come over me just now, but I lean the rest of the way towards him, pressing my lips to his.
Is this what it feels like to be the bigger person and let something slide? Huh. Not like it’s going to become a regular thing, but just this once… I don’t hate it.
W e’re already in bed when I remember the other thing. “Hey. Let me see your phone again.”
“Why? Forget something?”
“Don’t be a smartass. Just give me your phone.” When he takes his sweet time retrieving it from the night table, I give him a quick pop on the ass with my outstretched hand.
He squeaks and hands it over after unlocking the screen with his index finger. “Doesn’t that feel more secure?” I tease. He mumbles a yes as he watches me with a crease between his eyebrows.
“What did you do?” he asks when I hand it back.
“Added myself to your contacts.”
He snickers when he looks at the screen. “You really put yourself in as Bossy Asshole ?”
I fight it, but the corners of my mouth tick up anyway. “Don’t you forget it.”