Chapter 11 Mark
Mark
Her shoulders slump and she sits there staring at her place. I see another tear trickle down her cheek.
“Do you want me to help you inside, princess?”
Shaking her head, she reaches a trembling hand for the door handle and pulls it out. The door opens and it feels like all the blood drains from my body when she steps out of the car.
She won’t look at me and I groan. “Princess, please. Listen to me. I swear to you that I didn’t make a bet. You mean so much more to me than that. I’d never make light of how much I love you.”
Her shoulders shake and my body feels like it weighs a million pounds. I turn to the door to get out but her hand comes up and she turns to me, her head lifting.
My whole body goes cold. The pain in her eyes just about breaks me in two. “Don’t. Just don’t. I need time. Need to think.”
And then she turns and shambles away It feels like I can’t breathe.
She reaches her door and opens it, closing it quietly without ever looking at me again.
That door closing feels like it’s over to me. But I know she’s hurting and I hope to God that when she feels better she’ll realize that I’m not kidding. I mean every damn word I’ve said to her.
I love her. I can’t live without her.
Dragging in a shaky breath, I start the car and pull away, automatically driving to my house to get ready for work. I’m not sure when Liam’s gonna get all the kids moving but I know that I need to get my scones and muffins ready.
I’m supposed to be trying a new key lime pie muffin today but I don’t feel like I’ll be able to without screwing something up. And for the first time in my life, I don’t want to go into work. I don’t want to see the guys.
I just want to stay home and lick my wounds in peace. And pray that when Lily feels better she’ll call me. I already miss her.
As soon as I open the door, my phone rings and I groan when I see my buddy’s number. He’s a distant cousin on my mom’s side and I haven’t talked to him in forever.
“Lassie, my man! How are you doing?”
There’s dead silence on the other end of the line. Then, “what the hell’s wrong with you? You sound like your dog died.”
“I don’t have a dog.”
“You know what I mean. What’s wrong?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Too fucking bad. I called to talk and I’m not listening to you like this.”
“Call later then.”
“Seriously, what’s going on?” He asks.
Sighing, I sit down on the couch and stare at the wall, groaning when I see a stray sock in a vivid shade of green that I know isn’t mine. Crossing the room, I pick it up and hold it tight, my hands shaking.
“Tell me, fucker. I don’t know what’s got your ass so messed up but talk. Now.”
“I met a girl.”
“Ahhh,” he chuckles. “Woman trouble.”
“Don’t sound so pleased. It wasn’t so long ago that you didn’t have Verity. How’s she doing anyway?”
“She’s doing good. Got everything up and running up here. I’ve updated my internet so she can still work.”
“That’s good. I’m happy for you, man. What happened to that guy?”
“Oh, his court case isn’t going too well. We fully expect him to go to jail for a long time.”
“Good, good.”
“Stop deflecting. What’s happening with your woman?”
“Well, she’s got CFS. And she had a flare-up this morning right after she woke up.”
“Well, that’s terrible. I know there’s no cure for that. Must be hell.”
“It is. I hate to see her like that.”
He pauses and then sighs. “That’s not what’s got you so fucked up though, is it?”
“No. She overheard me talking to Liam and she got the crazy idea that I…that we…that what happened was because of a bet.”
“Jesus! That better not be true!”
“No! Hell no! I love the woman. But I didn’t feel like I could argue with her because she was so sick this morning. She was hurting and I just didn’t want to add to it.”
“So you let her go?”
“I drove her home and dropped her off.”
“What the fuck, man?”
“What?”
“If she’s your woman you don’t drop her off, ever. You walk your ass up to the door and make sure she’s okay. And if she’s hurting, you go in and take care of her.”
“But she didn’t want me there.”
“Too fucking bad.”
I snort, “Is that how you sweet-talked Verity into being with your grumpy ass? By not listening to her when she tells you something?”
“If it means leaving her hurting, I’ll never do what she asks. I’ll always take care of her. That’s the kind of man she deserves. One that puts her first. Even if she doesn’t want me to.”
“But she’s sick.”
“So she needs you more than ever. Pull your damn big-boy pants on and get your ass over there to take care of her. Get your fucking head out of your ass.”
“You think?”
“Yeah. Call off work and make sure one of the guys can take care of your kid or bring her over to her house. Doesn’t matter. But you don’t leave your woman hurting without at least trying to make it better. No matter if that’s what she thinks she wants.”
“Verity must be a saint to put up with you.”
He snorts out a broken chuckle. “Verity would kick my ass if I ever left her so don’t go thinking that my woman’s soft, asshole. I doubt if yours is either. So go take care of her the way you should. If you love her, you make sure she’s good first. Deal with your hurt feelings later.”
Rolling my eyes, I stand up and stretch, my heart beating crazily. “Okay. I’m gonna go then. I’ll try and head up to Black Timber Peak sometime soon. Gotta get some good hiking in this year.”
“Good. You’re all out of shape and doughy from working in that bakery. You’re getting soft in your old age.”
“Fucker, I can bench you under the table.”
“It’s cute that you think that. Now get the hell out of there and go take care of your woman. By the way, what’s her name? I’m sure that Verity will ask and then I’ll have to call you back. She doesn’t think that guys ever get the important information from a call!”
“She’s probably right. Her name is Lily. She’s a podcaster. Because she can work around her flare-ups.”
“You need to lock your woman down and take care of her the way she needs. The way she deserves.”
“I got it! I’m heading out now.”
“Good. Don’t fuck this up. It really sounds like she’s good for you.”
“She is, man. I can’t wait for you and Verity to meet her.”
“I’m sure we’ll love her. Good luck, my friend.”
“Thanks. I have a feeling I’m gonna need it.”
He hangs up, chuckling, and I groan and stretch again. Then I steel my spine.
My woman needs me whether she knows it or not. And I’ll tie her sexy ass to the bed if that’s what it takes for her to let me be there for her.
She needs to know right now that I’ll never leave her. Not even if she wants me to.