Chapter Sixteen
Mya
He was so damned close. I could see stubble along his jaw and above his lip.
His breath fanned over me, and I had to grip the edge of the sink next to me in order not to let it consume me.
I could smell the beer he’d had before but more than that, his alpha scent blanketed my body, comforting me in a way that made me want to nest and wallow in soft blankets and pull him into that nest with me.
“You said this wasn’t from the accident.” His thumb grazed over the bruise on my cheek and then on the circle ones along the sides of my neck. The ones that Jacob’s fingers made when he wrapped his hands around my neck. It was his favorite move. Choking me.
It gave him power over my life and death and next breath. I’d been robbed of air to the point of passing out more times than I remembered.
“No. It’s not.”
One small step toward me, and Greyson now stood between my legs. His groin was only inches away from mine and the tiny downstairs bathroom was suddenly the size of a matchbox. A matchbox full of his scent.
Goddess, I had to be strong. He’d been nice to me but I was an employee. His nanny.
This place and job were the first ounce of stability I’d had in a long time. Even if I left, I didn’t think I’d ever find a position like this. It was rare, and I would hold onto it as long as I could, as tightly as possible.
“Wanna tell me about it?”
Yes. Yes, I wanted to tell him. Pour my heart out to him. Let him cuddle me through it. Hug me. Hold me.
It had been so long since I was held by someone who loved me.
There were no hugs with Jacob. There were touches that led to sex.
“No. Look, I can take care of this.”
I shut down the whole thing with a blade of icy rapport and hopped off the counter ignoring how it caused friction between our bodies. I couldn’t risk this job or Benji. If something happened between us, I would get fired eventually. Men’s feelings changed. Their behaviors morphed. It never lasted.
And then where would I be? On the street. Now, with no car. Brokenhearted over having to leave and not care for Benji anymore. The boy had burrowed into my heart and, even if I left tomorrow, I would always care for him.
I dabbed at the cut with some antiseptic and placed a butterfly bandage on it, forcing myself not to meet Greyson’s gaze in the mirror. I knew it would break me. I’d been callous and mean, but I had to protect myself.
“I’m tired and have an early morning. Good night, Grey.”
Leaving him in the bathroom, I climbed the stairs and peeked into Benji’s room before going to my own. He was sleeping soundly. It had been a big day with a lot of change for the boy.
I showered in a haze of regret and resolve. I hated keeping Greyson at a distance, but it was high time I saved myself. Made decisions that created a life where I was safe and secure and could begin to believe in myself again.
Regain who I once was.
The man who promised he would take care of me didn’t. From now on, I took care of myself.
In that comfortable bed, I tossed and turned endlessly until sleep finally pulled me under. I was so torn.
Making good choices for myself sometimes came with growing pains.
The next morning, I didn’t wake to an alarm but the sound of chains and some kind of whirring engine.
What in the hell? I threw the covers back and walked over to the window and peered out.
“What in the holy?” Someone was towing my car. They were in the driveway and my car was already on the truck being dragged upward.
Not caring what I was wearing, I sprinted downstairs and to the front door and outside. “What the hell?” I said when I saw Grey, standing there in his suit, watching like this was supposed to be happening.
“Good morning,” Greyson said. He turned and his eyes roamed my form. I shivered. It felt like he was physically caressing my body even though he was standing at a distance. I looked down and realized I was in a long T-shirt and knee socks. My hair was probably sticking out in every direction.
“What is happening? Why is my car being towed? Did you fire me? I don’t understand.”
Tears came down my face, not because of sadness but anger and straight-up fear.
“What? No. I’m having it towed to a mechanic.”
“Why? I thought you were going to try and fix it.”
Greyson closed the distance between us. The car was finally all the way on the truck, and the driver had Greyson sign something.
“That’s my decision. It’s my car. I don’t know where you’re towing it to or how much it’s going to cost. I was planning on saving some of my paychecks and having it towed in the next couple of weeks. It’s my car. It’s the only thing I have that’s mine. You had no right.”
His eyes widened. The tow truck drove away. “I was trying to help. I thought I could do this for you. Make things easier.”
I crossed my arms over my chest realizing that in addition to my driveway fit, I had no bra on. Perfect. “It’s my car. I decide.”
My boss furrowed his brow. Clearly, he was confused. “I understand, but I have to get to work. Can we talk about this later?”
“Yeah.” I turned to walk inside. No more highhandedness. No more manhandling my things and my problems. I wasn’t someone who needed to have things made easy.
I looked out the window as Greyson got into his car and drove away and instantly felt bad. I could’ve handled that better.
Then again, so could he.