Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
E than
My hands are still shaking as I reach into the freezer and grab the ice pack. Fuck, I think my entire body is trembling.
I’ve never been so enraged in my life. Mason was squeezing Lily’s wrists, staring into her eyes like he was ready to kill her.
And there she was, my fiery Lily, looking so scared and small, unable to defend herself. It seemed so unlike her. Even though he’s bigger than her, I’d expect her to fight back more than she did. It’s almost as if…
He’s done something in the past. Something that put the fear of God in her.
This is what Kinsley was talking about. This is what she must suspect. Mason was violent with Lily. That’s why she’s been so withdrawn these last several months. That’s why she can’t sleep and her grades are suffering.
This is why God called me to help her. This is why I caught Mason when I did. It was blind luck that I happened to be looking out my window when he approached her. Though I suppose I have been looking out for her a lot recently.
I just have to convince her that she can trust me. That nothing bad is going to happen if she goes to the cops. I’ll make sure Mason never lays a hand on her again, even if I have to watch her like a damn guard dog.
As I turn around to face her, I take a deep breath to calm myself. I can’t let her see my simmering rage. Now is the time to start building her trust in me, to let her know I’m a safe place to lay her troubles.
I walk to where she stands by the counter. Her scent washes over me, sweet and floral. I blink a few times in an attempt to clear my head. “Alright, give me your right hand.”
She holds out her small wrist with the red welts around it, and another rush of rage sizzles through my veins. Oh fuck. How will I ever stand face-to-face with Mason again without punching him in the face?
“You look like you’re ready to murder someone,” she says. “I told you it doesn’t hurt, big guy.”
When my gaze snaps to Lily’s face, she’s staring at me with an exasperated expression. Even in my anger, I find myself smiling.
Big guy.
She’s invented a lot of nicknames for me over the years, especially when I’ve bossed her around. Grumplestiltskin, lord and master, and my recent favorite, her joy vacuum. But something about “big guy” tugs at my heart. It’s softer and almost…affectionate.
She winces as I wrap the ice pack around her wrist and attach the Velcro. I frown. “You said it didn’t hurt.”
She wrinkles her nose. “It doesn’t. I hate the cold. It feels terrible, like pins and needles. I’d rather use a heating pad.”
I shake my head. “It needs to be iced. Heat could make it swell up even more.”
She groans. “Who cares if it feels good?”
“Lily, let me do my job.”
“Are you a doctor now?”
I look at her gravely. “No, I’m the joy vacuum, remember? It’s my job to ensure your misery. You need to keep the ice pack on for five minutes and then switch to the other wrist so I can vacuum up the rest of the joy. I gotta be thorough.”
She smiles, and the sight of it makes my heart flutter. “I can’t believe I called you that. What a dick thing to say.”
I laugh. “Yeah, you can be a dick sometimes, but I probably deserve it.”
She shakes her head. “You don’t. You’re pretty selfless, and I wish I appreciated it more. I can’t believe how much time you’ve spent helping me with my sleep, especially when you have so much on your plate.”
Right. I’m selfless. That’s why my accountability partner job evolved into daily texts about her sleep. Why I can’t wait to get a response, even when the subject matter would be boring if I was texting with anyone else.
Not because the mere thought of her lights me up inside.
“Speaking of which,” Lily starts, “should we go ahead and start our sleep coaching session early? We might as well since I’m already here.”
“Sure, but we’re not going to talk in the study. I want to get your mind off today. How about we watch a movie or something?”
The shock in her eyes makes my face heat. Did it sound like an excuse to her? Like I just want to spend an intimate evening with her and invented a reason to do it?
“I didn’t even know you watch movies,” she says.
Ah, so she thinks I don’t know how to distract her, that because I’m so rigid in my routines, I don’t know how to have fun. “I don’t that often, but I’ll watch whatever you pick from start to finish. I can even promise I won’t do a single burpee. I hope you understand how difficult that’ll be for me.”
“No, no.” She sets her hand on my arm. “You need to hit your burpee count for the day. I refuse to let you make such a grave sacrifice on my behalf.”
Heat creeps into my cheeks. Clearly, Noah told her about how I make sure I get in a hundred burpees a day before bedtime. No wonder she’s always thought I have a stick up my ass.
I do have a stick up my ass.
I clear my throat. “Alright, I’ll head to the gas station and grab some snacks. What do you want?”
Her eyes grow huge. “Anything I want? Like Doritos and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups?”
“Sure.”
Her smile grows mischievous. “And you’ll eat them with me, right?”
I fight the urge to cringe. So many carbs.
But I refuse to have a stick up my ass tonight. I’m taking a day off from my exercise and diet protocol. “Sure, and I normally don’t eat anything after six o’clock, especially not empty carbs. I’m laying down my life for you.”
“A hero. Thank you for your service, Private Harrington.”
I nod. “It’s my honor to serve. Alright, anything to add to the list besides Reese’s and Doritos?”
Her face lights up. “Oh, yes. Sour skittles and a fountain Dr. Pepper. It must be fountain with lots of ice, and I want the biggest size they have. I do mean the biggest size. If they have a sixty-four-ounce cup, you’re getting it. Don’t let me down, soldier.”
I groan. “That will be just for you. Dr. Pepper has caffeine. I never drink caffeine this late.”
“Oh, no.” She winces dramatically. “What’ll happen if you accidentally take a sip? Will I need to take you to the hospital?”
“No, we have a defibrillator in the first aid kit. You should be able to resuscitate me on your own.”
Her smile fades, and what looks like surprise flashes in her eyes.
“What?” I ask.
She shakes her head slowly. “Why were you never like this before? Whenever I teased you… You just always seemed annoyed. I never thought you could be so…fun.”
Fun. The word hits me like a jolt of electricity. Lily Greenwood thinks I’m fun.
With effort, I maintain a blank expression. “I was never that annoyed with you. This is just what my face looks like all the time. It’s called resting joy vacuum.”
She grins. “And what a handsome joy vacuum you are.”
When she reaches out and pinches my cheek, heat shoots into my gut. Fuck, this isn’t good. Even a playful touch from her sets my body on fire.
I’ll need to sit on the other end of the couch when we watch our movie.
I take a step back. “Why don’t you scroll through Netflix and pick out a movie? We’ll be watching it in my room, because I have the biggest TV in the house. When you go upstairs, it’s the first door on your right.”
An almost naughty smile plays at her full lips. “Will I be the first girl to enter Ethan Harrington’s sacred space?”
I snort. “I live in a damn frat house, Lily. So no, you won’t be.”
Though she is the first woman I’ve ever planned to spend an evening with alone in my bedroom, and the thought makes my stomach twist with nerves.
What am I afraid of? I’ll never touch her again. My recent attraction to her might be messing with my head, but my self-control is stronger.