Chapter 17 #2
“He hates me.” She closes her eyes, a weird little smile appearing. “He blames me for our mom ditching us. Says that maybe if I wasn’t such a bitch, she wouldn’t have left in the first place.”
“What?” I practically shout and she opens her eyes, glaring at me.
“Ssh! He’ll hear you.” Pushing away from the door, she walks toward my bed and collapses on top of it, burrowing her head in the pillows. “I don’t want to talk about it now, Drew. I just want to go to sleep.”
She’s acting odd, but I’m not about to call her on it. She’s upset. Yet again her life has been turned completely upside down.
“Do you want to change into something more comfortable?” I ask.
Her shoulders shake like she’s laughing. She still won’t face me. “Are you trying to use some sort of line on me? Let me warn you up front. I’m not in the mood.”
“Fable.” Like I would expect anything from her tonight. “I’m not trying to get in your pants. I want to take care of you.”
“Fine.” She rolls over onto her back and undoes the snap on her jeans, shimmying out of them. Despite my not wanting anything from her—and I swear I don’t—I can’t help but stare at her legs, not to mention those lacy pink panties she has on that are barely covering her.
Swallowing hard, I glance down, trying to gain some composure. I shouldn’t act like a pervert in her time of need, but I look at her and I want her. It’s an automatic reaction.
I glance up to catch her shrugging out of her shirt and tossing it on the floor.
She reaches beneath her tank and undoes the clasp of her bra, pulling it off from under her top in that magical way girls have.
The bra is white and lacy, a little scrap of fabric that falls from her fingertips.
She’s wearing just the tank and the panties, her nipples pressing against her top, gooseflesh rising on her skin, and I release a shuddering breath.
Tell myself to get the hell over it and do the right thing.
“Cold? I can grab an extra blanket …”
“No.” She shakes her head and bounds up from the bed, tugging back the comforter and sheet so she can slip beneath them. “I’m just really, really tired.”
I stand there, not knowing what to do. She’s giving off a weird vibe. I know she’s upset and she has every reason to be. Not only did her mom pull a really crappy move, but Owen blames her for it.
Her back is to me, her blond hair a mess around her head, and I want to go to her so bad. But I’m afraid she’ll reject me. “Are you coming to bed?” she asks, her voice soft.
She just made up my mind for me. “Yeah,” I say, removing my clothes until I’m only in my boxer briefs. Turning off the bedside lamp, I get into bed and pull the covers over me, wondering if I should reach for her.
I decide to stay on my back and stare up at the ceiling instead, my arms folded behind my head. She’s quiet, she’s hardly moving, and I think she might’ve already fallen asleep.
“Drew?”
Guess she’s still awake. “Yeah.”
“Thank you for letting us stay with you.” She rolls over to face me and I turn my head so our gazes meet. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“What the hell?” I’m irritated. Does she think I’d let her deal with this on her own? “Of course I had to do that. Where else would you two go?”
She shrugs one shoulder. “I would’ve figured something out. I bet Colin would’ve taken us in. I hear he lives in a freaking mansion. I’m sure he has plenty of room.”
Fuck me! I can’t believe she would say that. The guy was a total dick to me that night I first saw her, making me believe he had something going on with her, and now she’s saying she would’ve moved in with him like it was no problem?
“I don’t want to inconvenience you,” she continues. “First thing tomorrow before I go to work, I’m going apartment hunting.”
“Why do you do that?” I ask, my voice so low, I sound like I’m growling. But damn it, I’m pissed. “Why do you act like you never want my help? Like you can’t count on me to come through for anything?”
“Seriously?” Her voice rises. “When have you ever come through? I can’t count on anyone. No one. I’ve always taken care of myself. I’m not about to become dependent on you now.”
“Why the hell not? We haven’t been together long enough for me to come through for you when the going gets tough.
But I’m here now. Offering everything I have to try to help you and you act like you could give a shit.
” My blood is boiling. I’m infuriated that she’s treating me like this.
A voice inside my head whispers I need to tread lightly, but screw it.
The gloves are coming off. I need to tell her how I feel before I explode and really lose my shit.
“I said thank you,” she whispers.
“Yeah, like I held a gun to your head and forced you to say it,” I return, flicking my gaze away from her so I can stare at the ceiling once again.
She’s quiet, I hear the rustle of the sheets and comforter, and I glance at her out of the corner of my eye to see she’s curled into a ball, her shoulder shaking. A sob escapes her and she slaps her hand over her mouth.
God, she’s crying. Probably over how I just yelled at her, like I’m some sort of jackass.
“Come here,” I whisper, gathering her in my arms. She comes to me easily, curling her arms around my middle as she rests her head against my bare chest. Her tears dampen my skin as I smooth her hair away from her forehead.
I whisper soft words of comfort close to her ear, hating how despondent she sounds.
She’s crying hard, her entire body shaking.
I fear her heart might be breaking in two.
“I—I don’t know what to d-do,” she sobs. “I can’t believe she left us with nothing. That she didn’t tell us she was leaving.”
“It’s going to be all right.” I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, run my index finger down the side of her throat. “I swear, I’ll help you with whatever you need.”
She takes a deep, shuddering breath. “It’s not that I’m ungrateful. I just … I don’t know how to do this. Accept help from someone. I’ve always carried this load on my own. It’s hard to believe someone wants to share the burden.”
“Whatever I can do to help, I’m here. You don’t have to rush out and find an apartment right away.
” I slip my finger beneath her chin and lift her head.
Her cheeks are streaked with drying tears and black smudges ring beneath her eyes.
She never washed off her makeup and she looks so lost, so pitiful, I lean in and brush a soft kiss to her lips.
“Take your time. Find a good place for you and Owen to live.”
I’d rather they stay with me for the long term but I don’t want to push. Having her brother living here with us would be … uncomfortable at first, but Fable is literally all he has.
“Okay.” She nods, as if she’s trying to convince herself.
“Okay, you’re right. I do need to take my time and not pick the first apartment that’s available.
” She closes her eyes, presses her lips together.
“I don’t have any furniture. She took it all.
Even my bed! I’ve had that stupid bed for years.
It’s not even that comfortable. The mattress is all lumpy. ”
I kiss her again. “She’s crazy, baby. Bat-shit crazy for taking everything like she did, and so quickly, too. I honestly don’t know how she did it.”
“I don’t know either. It makes no sense.” Fable opens her eyes. “She makes no sense. I tried to stop figuring her out years ago, but then she goes and pulls a stunt like this and I’m left trying to piece together exactly why it happened.”
“Stop thinking about it.” I kiss her lips one more time, then drop a kiss on her cheek, her nose, her forehead. “We’ll worry about it tomorrow. You need to get some sleep.”
She nods, her eyes sliding closed, and she squeezes her arms around me. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m the one who’s sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you.”
“I think I needed it.” Her voice is already fading and she nuzzles her face against my chest. “You feel so good, Drew. I love you.”
My heart eases. I’m reassured by her sweetly spoken words. “I love you, too.”