The Wildcat (Playing to Win, #2)

by Bella Matthews

“Sometimes running away from love is the only way to find it.” UNKNOWN

“Does that ID say a name or am I just supposed to call you Cinderella all night? You gonna leave me your shoe before hopping in your pumpkin?” A slow, pretty smile spreads across her face. “I was more of a Rapunzel fan. But I guess it’ll do. Although Rapunzel had the hottest prince.” She looks me up and down, and if it’s possible, her smile grows even more dazzling. “Has anyone ever told you, you’d make a pretty good Flynn Rider?”

Sometimes, self-care is reading a book by candlelight in a warm bubble bath. Other times, it’s telling someone to fuck all the way off. Depends on the day.

“No, Cinderella. We rushed this once. Now, we’re going to take it slow. You’re going to let me take you out again. You’re going to let me pick you up at your door, without arguing, and walk you back at the end of the night. Because that’s what you deserve, and that’s what a man does. We’re going to slow this down, so maybe the next time you’re acting skittish, you’ll stay still instead of pulling away . . . until you’re ready to push forward. I’m a patient man, Everly, and something tells me you’re worth every second of the wait.”

“We all get hurt at some point, Evie. That’s why the good things in life feel so good. If everything was easy, how would anything be amazing?”

They call me the good twin because you scare them. You’re the fearless twin. You always have been. You try everything first, so when I do something, it’s easy because I already know it’s safe. It’s been like that since we were little. And when I didn’t like to talk, you did it for me. They said you were loud, but you weren’t. You were protective. It makes you seem wild and bossy and makes me seem sweet and shy. When in reality, you were brave, and I was scared.”

“You’re going to destroy me, Cross Wilder.” “I’m pretty sure you’re going to save me, baby.”

You don’t have to marry the prettiest girl at the game. Marry the girl screaming the loudest because her team is losing. That girl is going to raise winners, and you want your kids to be winners.

“It’s okay. Daddy says Uncle Ares gets hit in the head too many times, and ice is hard. We have to be nice to him.”

We might destroy each other, but I’m not going down without a fight.

“I need you so fucking much, Everly. You’re mine, baby. Mine to take care of. To protect. And I’ll tell you as many times as you need to hear it.”

“I don’t trust easily, Cross. I’ve been hurt. And before you ask, no, I don’t want to talk about it now. But you . . . It’s like my heart knows I can trust you. And if it makes any sense at all, my brain knows it too. But man, the fear is still there. The fear is louder than everything else.” “Baby, you’ve got nothing to fear. Not from me. Never from me. I’m not that guy.”

“You’re fucking right, I’m yours. And I don’t share, Everly. Not with anyone. Not even a past that haunts you. You’re gonna let me in one day, so I can destroy those demons for you.”

I’m not letting you go, baby.” “Don’t let go, Cross. Even when I run. Don’t let go.”

Never say you can’t do something. Say you haven’t done it yet. That yet is important.