“I’m good,” I say tersely, jerking the coat and silk square away from her. “Where do you want these?”
“I’ll take care of them.” She tries to grab for the items but I turn away. Her momentum causes her to stumble. I catch her in my arms and swing her upright before she can fall on her face. Her cheeks color in embarrassment. I close my eyes and remind myself that I cannot have this girl. She’s not mine, even though we have the same last name, but fuck, I want to plunder her mouth and throw her down on the tile floor and fuck her until our DNA is imprinted into the marble. With a muttered curse, I set her aside and stalk up to the third floor. I throw her things on Sol’s bed and rumble out an excuse.
“I’m going out tonight and won’t be home until late. Don’t wait up.”
“What did I do to piss you off?” Tinsley demands from over my shoulder.
“Exist,” I growl. Her hurt face sears my heart, but the pain of that is better than the endless need that keeps me awake at night. I’m never going to slake my desires on her body, so fighting is the only release I’ll get. I ignore both girls and bolt for the exit.
The walk to the bus stop doesn’t clear my head, nor am I in a better frame of mind when I arrive at my dingy apartment.
Imagine bringing Tinsley here. What a joke. I’m an hourly-pay dock worker who barely manages to put his sister through college and pay for the bare necessities. I have to resort to illegal fighting to make ends meet. Tinsley is out of reach. The only way I can touch her is in my dreams. I need to remember that for however long this sham of a marriage lasts.
CHAPTER 8
TINSLEY
“Time for your meds,” I tell Sol as I enter her bedroom with a tray I made for her with a nighttime snack and hot cocoa. It always helps me sleep to have something warm in my belly. Sol closes her laptop, setting it on the nightstand.
“Really?” She yawns. “Those Real Housewives shows make time fly by. You’ve got me addicted.”
“That’s been my evil plan all along. I need someone to talk to about them.”
“Not yet!” she rushes to say. “No spoilers.” I set the tray down and motion that my lips are sealed. “You’re doing too much.” Sol runs her finger along the mirrored tray where I’ve put her meds and snack. Along with bottled water, juice, and hot cocoa.
“Don’t be silly. You and Leo are the ones doing so much. I’ve uprooted your whole lives.” The guilt weighs heavily on me.
Leo can’t stand being here. I’ve been trying to stay out of the house as much as possible, thinking if I’m not in the way it might be better for everyone. It’s funny how Sol and I hang out more when we don't live together. She’s under my roof, and I miss her.
“You uprooted us from a crappy apartment and brought us to this fancy place, Tins. Let’s just say it’s far from being a hardship.” She gives me a look like I’m crazy.
“I hope you mean that. I do want you here.”
“Are you sure about that?” She grabs her meds, popping them into her mouth before chasing them with some water.
“Yes, I want you here if you want to be here. I’d just hate the fact that I might be forcing you to be here.”
“How will I ever survive in this hellhole, Tins? How could you make me stay in this beautiful brownstone that has unlimited food and hot water? I mean, what kind of person are you?” She puts her hand to her forehead, feigning a struggle. I giggle. “Now, what is hard is never seeing you anymore.”
“I don’t want to bug you guys,” I admit, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Leo seems really upset with me, and I’m trying not to rock the boat.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what's up with him.”
“Maybe it’s the fact he was forced to marry someone he didn’t want to,” I point out. Sol rolls her eyes.
“I don’t know what his deal is. It’s not really much of a change. I’ll talk to him.”
“No, don't,” I rush to say. “It might make things worse. He already doesn’t like me and now I’m tattling on him.”
“I won’t say you said anything. I’m just going to point out what I’ve seen myself. Promise.”
“I don’t want to cause problems between you two.”
“Well, he’s making problems with my best friend and me, and it’s pissing me the fuck off,” she snaps.
“It’s fine, maybe we’re all adjusting or something. Hopefully, Mr. Edwards and I will have some things worked out, and this won’t have to go on too long.”