The Wrong Right Man - Aurora Rose Reynolds Page 0,1

we go now?” I ask, ignoring his comment and waving my hand toward the door.

Shaking his head, he slips on his black leather jacket and tucks his car key into the front pocket of his jeans then pauses, sweeping his eyes over me from head to toe.

“Is that what you’re wearing?” he questions, and I look down the length of my body.

“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”

“That outfit is just—” His nostrils flare and his hand sweeps up and down, signaling everything that’s me. “—it’s so fucking Troy,” he mutters, making me cringe.

Looking down once more, I realize he’s right.

Troy always wanted me to cover up.

He wanted me in long-sleeved tops, long pants, and conservative heels.

He wanted my hair up and no makeup.

He wanted me to be the perfect good girl.

And when I was with him, I wanted to give him exactly what he wanted.

“Go change,” Jamie growls, and my eyes fly up to meet his.

“What?” I glance at the clock.

“Go change. You don’t need to dress like a fucking nun anymore, Dakota.”

“I can’t be late, Jamie.” I stomp my foot.

“You’re only going to be late if you don’t go change into something else.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. What I’m wearing is fine.”

“I watched you change. I watched my fun-loving, wild sister disappear a little each day over the last five years, but I’m done. I want my sister back,” he says with anger and sadness seeping into his tone.

Guilt and disappointment in myself for letting a man change me make it hard to breathe. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, just go change.”

“Jamie,” I groan, following him with my eyes as he takes a seat on one of his barstools.

“Hurry. Remember, you don’t want to be late.” He smiles, pulling out his phone.

“I hate you,” I mutter under my breath as I stomp to the suitcase I pushed behind his couch this morning after I got dressed. Opening it up, I dig through, not caring that I’m scattering clothes everywhere as I search for something the “me before Troy” would wear.

Settling on my dark jeans, and a white tank top I normally wear to bed, I find my black ankle booties with a cute heel and carry them all to the bathroom down the hall. Taking off my black button-down shirt, I hang it on the back of the door then pull off the cream belt around my waist. I slip out of my black slacks and flats, only leaving the pearls around my neck as I change into my new outfit. Walking back into the living room, I toss my clothes onto the couch and stomp toward the front door.

“Don’t tell me you don’t feel like your old self?” Jamie prompts, and I feel his hand wrap around my ponytail. I turn to glare at him over my shoulder as my hair flutters down around me. “Don’t look at me like that, and here. You can wear this jacket,” he says, holding out a stylish leather coat toward me.

“I’ll wear my own jacket,” I snap, knowing the leather jacket probably belongs to one of his many one-night stands.

“This is your jacket.” He grabs my shoulder and turns me to face him. “I got it for you as a goodbye gift.”

“A goodbye gift?” I fight my smile as I glare up at him.

“Yeah, I finally get my space back, and you get to say goodbye to Troy.”

Tears burn the back of my eyes and I swallow hard.

“I miss my sister, the one who wore a leather jacket every day, the one who would come to my concerts and drink beer while singing along to every song.” He smiles softly, holding the jacket out toward me.

Taking the coat from him, I slip it on, noticing I do feel a little more like my old self. Then again, I’ve been finding me again ever since I moved in here.

“You’re kinda awesome,” I murmur, stepping toward him and wrapping my arms around his waist.

“What can I say? I am awesome.” He gives me a gentle squeeze, making me smile.

I tip my head back and look him in the eye. “Thank you for being here for me. For always being here for me,” I whisper, and his arms tighten around me.

“I always have your back.” He kisses my forehead then lets me go and reaches around to open the door. “Let’s go… before you’re late.”

“Yeah.” I sigh, stepping out the door with a tiny flame of excitement in my belly because after today, I will be getting