Chapter 23
JASE
There’s no conversation on the one-minute drive from the library to the Blackwood house.
After I park her car, she goes straight in through the garage where she pulls a box of waffles from the garage fridge’s freezer and stuffs it in her bag.
She then goes in the house and pulls a bottle of wine from the wine fridge and shoves that into her bag before she grabs a wine opener fridge magnet and stuffs it into her pocket before she wearily climbs the stairs, me on her heels.
When we get into her room, she goes straight for the attached bathroom, slams the door and locks it. She took her bag in there with her, which means she’s in there with wine, frozen waffles, and baked goods.
Sitting on her bed and thrusting my hands into my hair, I hear footsteps.
Graydon sticks his head in and surveys me for a second before asking, “Rough day?”
“I do not fuckin’ understand females,” I tell him.
He scoffs with a knowing look on his face. “Goin’ to Roxy’s for a beer. Wanna join?”
I shake my head. “Can’t do it. But thanks.”
“Right. Knew that. Still wanted to ask.”
“Raincheck?”
“Absolutely. If Carrie shows and asks, let her know I won’t be home for dinner? Don’t know where she got to.”
“Not a problem.”
I kick my shoes off and lay back on Bailey’s bed, listening to the water running.
It runs for a couple minutes before I surmise she's running a bath.
I put her pillow to my nose and inhale, but a moment later, I catch the scent of cigarette smoke, and hear her sniffle.
I sit up.
More sniffling.
She’s in there crying. Crying and smoking.
I hear a cork pop and now I smell wine.
I move to the door and put my forehead against it. Her breath hitches and she tries to disguise it with a cough.
My insides feel sick. I pace the room for a minute before I can’t stand it any longer and knock on the door.
“Go away!” she demands.
“You know I’m not gonna do that."
“I’m taking a bath, Jason!” She's still crying. It's right there in her voice.
“I’m coming outta my skin here. You gotta let me do something, Bay.”
"About what?"
"About you crying. Being upset."
“Believe me, there's nothing you can do. Just go home. Gimme a night to myself.”
“Bailey, this is worse than the urge to fuck you. Worse than the ache in my gums to mark you. I’m supposed to take care of you and you’re in there crying. I can’t fucking take this!”
“Well that's just too bad! Go away and you can go back to pretending I don't exist.”
“Not gonna happen. Talk to me,” I request.
She doesn’t answer.
“Put out the cigarette, baby.”
“You don't get to tell me what to do, Jase.”
I grind my teeth. I've never been this frustrated in my life. How the hell am I gonna deal with this another two days or more if Bailey and Danica get their way?
“Fuck!” she snaps.
“What? What happened?”
“Damn it,” she mutters.
“Bailey, answer me or I’m bustin' this door in!”
“No!" She hollers. "Don't you dare! I’m naked in here!”
I stare at the door.
“I just dropped my cigarette in the tub,” she mutters.
Naked.
A smile spreads across my face. “I haven’t seen you naked yet."
There’s not a sound coming from in there.
I add, “I was thinkin’ about that back in Italy. How since you don’t shift, you’ve never been naked in front of the pack.”
“Geez, thanks for pointing out one of my deficiencies, Jase. Real nice.”
“No, Bay. Not sayin’ it like that. I’m saying I thought about how you don’t walk around naked and that it means that no other male in the pack has set eyes on your body.” My voice goes gruff. “All that’s for me. Just me. I like that, baby. A lot."
Now I hear the sound of the water being sucked down the drain as she’s obviously pulled the plug.
I sit on her bed again and wait, thinking she’s coming out.
But a minute after the tub stops emptying, the water turns back on.
She’s running a new bath.
At least she’s not crying anymore.