Ditched Cheating Alpha, I Led My Daughter to Life's Peak novel Chapter 54

I shake my head. I mean to say, 'It's fine,' but I don't know if I should, because technically it's not. I need my space and his behavior has been anything but respectful of that. But at the same time, I don't think he's doing it out of bad intent.

And then of course, I'd be lying if I said the proximity always bothers me. It does most of the time, but there are the exceptions.

He starts talking again. "Just to clarify... that was really you pushing me? With actual force?"

"Yes," I say again, irritated.

"Well it didn't feel that way," he crosses his arms. "So from now on I'd like if you'd tell me plainly to back the hell away from you."

I raise an eyebrow. "You want me to say it like that?"

He nods. "Well, maybe not those exact words, but don't just say Carson and try to push me away like that because it's not gonna work. To be honest, it just felt like you were tapping me. Gently."

"I wasn't." I grumble. He's pissing me off.

He puts his hands up. "I know. I know. But still. I think verbal communication is what's best for us. I don't want to make you uncomfortable. I can be..." he rolls his shoulders out. "More like Axel if you want."

Axel? I shake my head. "That's not what I want."

"I just mean gentler. And I can listen." He gets back in my personal space.

I roll my eyes. He'll never learn. "This is the last time I'm going to say this, Carson. I do not prefer Axel."

"But you like him," he says. It's almost like he's asking. Almost, but too sure to be a real question.

I don't say anything. I don't know if I should.

He nods. He looks to the side. "Do you like me?"

My face burns. I look at him. Is he serious? Does he seriously want an answer?

He scratches the back of his neck. "Don't answer that, actually. Don't ask questions you don't want the answer to, right?" he chuckles, but it's dry.

I shake my head, "No, I-"

He looks down at me. "I don't care if you like him or not. I want you to like him. He's as much your mate as I am. It's just... I'm really upset because you were disappointed when you thought it was just me. And then it was okay with him."

"That's not true," I say.

He gives me a 'really?" look. "I said I was falling in love with you, and you asked him about his love life."

I open my mouth. I close it. I rub my chin. Hm. "Well, when you put it that way, I can see why you're upset."

He nods. He looks like Michael when he feels like he just made his point, except he doesn't look happy about it.

I think carefully. "But it wasn't really about Axel necessarily. It was about Juliet. I thought they might be together."

"So you were jealous?"

That's not really something I want to admit. I shrug. "In a sense, maybe."

He frowns. "Well I have plenty of girls around me too for you to get jealous of."

What is wrong with this guy? I rub my forehead. "Jealousy is not a good thing, Carson."