Chapter 11
As he walks towards the house, my face is impassive, but my knuckles are white as I grip the steering wheel. He stares back at me, and the look on his face is pure devastation and humiliation. He turns and closes the door.
I wait, torn between leaving him and allowing him the space he needs to process everything while also being there for him. I know it has something to do with that dickhead he’s seeing. I can’t bear to see him like that, and the anguish on his face makes me want to make it right for him.
Either I find Dickhead and kill him, or I check on Scott.
I pull the handbrake on and climb out. After standing for a second, I shake my head and walk towards the door.
I let myself in, locking the door behind me.
I kick off my shoes, hang up my jacket, and climb the stairs.
I crack the door open. Scott’s inside the room, sobbing, so I slip inside, gently clicking the door closed behind me.
I tug the covers back and climb into the bed.
He gasps as the bed shifts under my weight, and I tuck the covers around us.
I wrap my arms around him and hold him against me.
He turns in my arms, his hands slip between us, cuddling into me.
I don’t talk. He doesn’t say anything, we just hold each other.
I rub his back while he cries. When his breathing evens out, I kiss his forehead and hold him a little tighter.
I wake up to pounding on the front door. I creep out from under Scott, glancing over at the clock; it’s three thirty in the morning. I pad downstairs and yank the door open. Dickhead stands there, his back to the door. He turns slowly, a seductive grin on his face.
“Baby.” His face drops, his casual stance turns rigid, while he pulls his hands out of his pockets and balls them into fists at his sides. “Where’s Scott?” he snarls, slurring and swaying on the doorstep.
“He’s in bed.” I step through the door, clicking it closed behind me. “What did you do to him?”
A smug grin spreads across his face. “I didn’t do anything. We went out. I took my friends home. I said I’d come by later. I’m a man of my word, so here I am. So, you gonna let me in?”
I cross my arms and step forward. He rocks back, and his eyes flick up to meet mine.
“You fucking left him? Alone, in the bar, to take your fucking friends home. You piece of shit.” I shove his shoulder. “Leave now while you still fucking can.”
He steps back up to me. “You can’t tell me what to do. He’s my boyfriend.”
“We’ll see about that.” I turn, stepping inside, spinning on my heel and leaving him outside. “Be very careful what your next move is gonna be because I’m not as forgiving as Scott.”
“It’s got fuck all to do with you,” he yells as I click the lock on the door and head back upstairs.
I slip back under the covers and wrap my arms around Scott again.
I’ve got a fight tomorrow night. And I need to prepare, but right now, he needs me, and I can’t bring myself to tear away from him.
If Derren comes back, I want to be here, just in case.
I pull him tighter against me. He nestles back against my chest.
“Where did you go?” he mumbles.
“Nowhere, Nerd. I’m always here.” He nuzzles into my neck as we pull each other closer.
I hold him tight. Kiss the top of his head and promise him I will always be there for him.
He’s already asleep again, so I just snuggle him.
Not sure who needs this more, him or me, but I vow to never let him go.