“Baby, I won’t be able to see you.” I know he’s feeling territorial that I’m about to fly across the country to see another man when I’ve been in his bed all night but letting him come with me is the worst idea. “I know how this must look and if the situation were reversed, I’d be pissed but JP…” I wince, hoping that my use of his nickname will calm his irritation. I move over to him where he’s leaning against the wall and put my hand on his chest. “Baby, please try to understand.”

He lets out a breath through his nose and shakes his head. “I get it, Whitney. I’m not mad at you either, I’m just…” He grabs me and pushes me against the wall and grips my face with his hands. “You are fucking mine. All mine.”

“All yours,” I repeat.

“I just got you back and now you have to go to New York to tend to some other man.” He drops his forehead to mine. His eyes close slowly and I hear him take an inhale.

I raise my hand to his cheek and his eyes open and I see the uncertainty behind them. “Nothing’s changed. I’m still ending it. It’s just a slight complication.”

“And what’s this about a camera?”

I let out a sigh and head into his en-suite bathroom to brush my teeth. I grab his toothbrush from the cabinet and apply the paste and the smug look that passes over his features makes me smile. I spit out the toothpaste to speak. “You know about the camera he has on the outside of the door. I told you. It’s just to monitor who comes in and out of the house and for packages.”

“And evidently when you don’t come home? Whitney…” He lets out a sigh and presses off the doorjamb to sit on the closed toilet. He looks up at me and grabs my arm, pulling me into his lap. “Was he… controlling? It sounds like he’s been keeping a close eye on you. I heard your phone calls in the bar…” I wince, remembering that those conversations weren’t the best portrayals of our relationship.

“JP…”

“He’s never gotten aggressive with you, right?” His lips find my chin and he drags them along my jawline. “I’ll kill him, you know.” He pulls back and gives me a stern look.

“No.” I shake my head.

“Don’t lie to me.” He gives me a look that makes the space between my legs flutter and I do my best not to fixate on it because we don’t have time to do anything about it.

“I’ve never lied to you,” I whisper. My tone is soft and quiet and I hope he realizes that my guard is all the way down with him, again.