“Roman, no. This is my mess, not yours. I don’t want or need your help.”
I snorted and reached out, grabbing hold of her hand. “Then why did you call me? You know what, Beth? It kind of looks like you do need my help.”
Without a word, I walked her outside and opened the passenger door, waiting for her to get in. She glared at me and stood her ground, as if she had some kind of point to prove.
“I don't need you to save me.”
“Beth, get in the fucking car. If things are as bad as you say they are, then every second you stand here and argue is one second you're closer to having to explain yourself to them rather than me.” I shrugged as if I didn’t care. “Your choice.”
That got her attention. Her pretty face creased into a frown as she crouched down into the passenger seat, scowling.
Sighing, I slammed the door and walked around to the driver's side. “So, are you going to tell me what is going on?”
She didn't respond. Instead, she just stared out the window. I glanced down at her fingers, which were fidgeting like crazy in her lap. I sighed. What did I have to do here? I was so worried about her, but if she wouldn’t tell me what was wrong, I couldn’t help her.
We drove in silence, and I figured the best thing I could do right then was wait until she was ready to talk. Whatever was wrong, at least I could protect her if she was with me.
I drove us out through the mountains to a small fishing shack my father used to own. I was about ninety percent sure it was abandoned, so I figured it was as good a place as any to hide out for a few days. As we drove through the last town before the shack, I stopped to grab some supplies.
“You stay here. Do you need anything?”
She shook her head. Nodding, I climbed out of the car and slammed the door. She was so damned frustrating sometimes.
I put her out of my mind as I walked around the supermarket, grabbing handfuls of supplies—enough to last us a few days. U
ntil I knew what the hell was wrong, I had no real plan in mind of what to do. I mean, for all I knew she could be in the shit for missing a day at work. I chuckled to myself. Maybe this was her way of trying to get me alone? No—if Beth was one thing, it was forward. She didn't hide behind games. If she wanted me alone, she would just ask.
I walked back to the car and threw the bag of groceries in the trunk.
“You sure you don't want a bathroom break or anything?” I asked her, my voice soft.
She half-smiled and shook her head. “I'm okay,” she mumbled.
She speaks! At least we were getting somewhere.
“The cabin’s not too far away. We will be safe there for a few days, but I am going to need to know what's going on.”
She nodded and looked away.
I pulled up outside the old wooden shack, where I had spent many weekends as a child. It looked abandoned. Well, more than that that, it looked unsafe for human habitation. The roof toward the back of the shack had begun to cave in. The once bright yellow paint had peeled off, revealing the rotted weatherboards. Every window had been smashed. God, even the door was barely hanging on by a hinge. But I had to make the best of the situation. I caught Beth eyeing the cabin dubiously, which made me smile.
This place was definitely a step down for the princess.
“Can you handle a couple of days roughing it?” I smirked.
She shot me a look, her eyes narrowing. “Can you?” she retorted.
Fair point.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Roman
“Beth, I need you to tell me what is going on. I want to help you, but I don’t know how.”
She sat on the sofa, with me kneeling between her legs, my hands resting on her thighs.
I reached up and tilted her chin. Her sad eyes gazed back at me. “Please, talk to me.”