Chapter 22 Greta #2
“We will need to talk to Toni before the events, and we’ll talk to publicity and to legal, but trust me, Kaelee, these people will not hurt you.
Never again.” Greta scooped all the papers up and put them in the envelope.
“Next week, we’ll talk to legal, okay? Like I said, I know a great firm with great attorneys for the not-publishing parts. We’ll make sure your trust is secure.”
Kaelee nodded again. “I don’t look that much like her. Not now. They had a memorial; they want everyone to think I’m dead. I’m not going to say I’m their daughter. Why not just let it go?”
“Fear of facing who you are? That’s their baggage, though. Not yours. I’m here with you while we figure it out. And you know Toni and Addie and Emily would have your back, too.” Greta stared at her. “And Cherie? That was your friend’s name, right? Her, too. You are not alone.”
Kaelee let herself be led back to bed, and in an uncharacteristic move, she curled her body against Greta, pillowing her head on Greta’s shoulder and chest. “I don’t understand how they hate me so much that they want to fuck up my life when they aren’t even in it.
No one will guess that Kaelee Carpenter used to be an Alden.
Why try to drag me back? They don’t want me, but they don’t want me to move on either. ”
“Some people can’t see beyond their own hate.
I’m sorry that they are missing out on knowing you, but right now, it certainly doesn’t sound like you are missing out by not seeing them.
” Greta stroked her hand over Kaelee’s hair and down her neck.
“Plenty of people care about you, Kaelee, and I hope you remember that if these asswipes attempt contact again.”
They fell asleep that way, with Greta holding Kaelee in her arms, and the following morning, they woke up still entangled.
Kaelee stared at her and said, “You know I don’t break down as often as it seems. Yesterday and then the drunk thing … before that I don’t think I’d been drunk in almost nine years. I’m not fragile like this.”
“I don’t think you’re fragile.” Greta trailed her fingers over Kaelee’s bare arm.
“Even without the family intrusion, I think you’re having a lot of upheaval in your life.
The book deal is good stress, but that doesn’t mean it’s not unsettling.
The stuff between us has been unexpected, and in some ways emotional. ”
“True. I know you realize I don’t let people as close as you are, not in my life and my bed.
” Kaelee looked uncomfortably vulnerable.
“Thank you for … everything, really. I was freaking out yesterday, and then I was here with you, and I felt like you were putting my pieces back together and that you didn’t mind.
I always feel like that with you, like you don’t mind the ways I’m fucked up. ”
“We all have scars. Like physical ones, yours are sometimes obvious when we’re naked, but they aren’t a reason to overlook all the beauty.
” Greta kissed her softly. “Your heart is beautiful, and your mind is irresistible. You’re smart and smart-assed, and you make me relax.
None of that goes away just because you have some trauma. ”
“Trauma that means I have hangups with sex,” Kaelee amended.
“Yes, but yours aren’t hangups that make me change how I see you.”
“You actually mean that, don’t you?” Kaelee frowned slightly. “I usually just keep my limits in place, and a lot of women are fine with it, being a princess and letting me touch without being touched.”
“I like touching you, but if you genuinely don’t want my hands on you, don’t want me to get you off, I can learn to adapt.” Greta pulled her hand away. “I want you to be comfortable, and I feel like it’s a gift when you let me closer.”
“I do like you touching me. I feel … safe with you.” Kaelee lifted Greta’s hand in hers and pulled it back to her side. It was a nonsexual touch, but Greta felt like it was also an admission that these sorts of touches, affectionate and casual, were welcome, too.
“We can order room service and spend the day here. Read, watch a show, and have sex if you want.” Greta smiled at the fact that they were here at all.
“Or we can go down to the restaurant for breakfast and walk around the city. There’s a tour of the City Hall Tower that takes you up to see the city.
It used to be the tallest building at one point, built early 1900s, right at the turn of the century, I think. ”
“History nerd,” Kaelee teased with a laugh. “I swear sometimes that you are everything I could want if I ever wanted to get serious.”
Greta felt like something squeezed her heart, a too real reminder that she already felt something serious. “I’ll be here if that happens. Right now, I’m happy to be friends who have a weekend away together, but if that changes … I wouldn’t object to trying it, trying us with intentions.”
“I thought you didn’t want that,” Kaelee said with a look of confusion plain on her face.
Greta kissed her quickly. “Some rules can be broken for the right person. I’m not asking for that, but if you wanted to …
date with a plan for the future, I’d say yes.
You feel like a once-in-a-lifetime person, Kaelee.
I decided I won’t refuse the possibility if it happens.
If it doesn’t, I’ll still be grateful for what we do have. ”
Then Greta slipped out of bed with a murmured “Dibs on the bathroom!” and gathered up her toiletry bag.