“Do you know what happened to us? What I did.” Please say no. The thought of Crisis knowing I was raped and on drugs . . . it made me feel weak and I’d fought a long time to get over that feeling.
“Nope.” He nodded to the stairs. “And you better get changed, the elevator dinged.”
I scrambled past him and dug into my drawer for clothes.
“Coffee’s made. Kite’s on the bacon,” Crisis called as he left.
I came out into the kitchen just as Kite was finishing the bacon.
“If I could put horses out back, I’d move in,” Kat said, then noticed me, came over and hugged me. She then pulled back and whispered in my ear. “Rum?”
Damn it.
“Don’t worry. He was drunk off his ass at Avalanche last night. He won’t know if it’s him or you.” She squeezed my arm.
I kissed Ream on the cheek, keeping my contact as brief and quick as possible. It wasn’t unusual for me, so he didn’t notice. “Hey.”
“You doing okay?” Ream asked. “You still like it here? Living with these assholes?”
Ream had checked the penthouse and security out twice before he was okay with me living here. Well, he still wasn’t okay with it, but he somewhat conceded. “Yeah. It’s been good and close to school.”
Kat grinned at me then called Ream over to the balcony. “Come here and see this view.”
“I’ve seen the view before,” he said.
“Not with me, baby.”
I breathed a sigh of relief as Ream went outside. I rested my forehead against the cool fridge. “Never again.” The smell of bacon had my stomach reeling again and I swallowed several times.
“Here.” Crisis passed me a coffee. “Helps the head. Not much I can do about your smell.”
I gasped. “Oh, my God, you can smell me, too?”
He chuckled. “No, bab . . .” He stopped. “No, but I heard Kat tell you.”
I swear he was about to call me baby. Why did he catch himself? He’d always called me baby, even in our texts. I liked it.
I took out the egg carton from the fridge and Crisis held out his hand. “I’ll do it. You’re liable to throw up all over the stove and set off a ricochet of events none of us want this morning. Set the table.”
I smiled. “Thanks.”
“Yep.”
I stared at him a minute as he reached up and grabbed a frying pan from the hook above the island. He was tense and . . . different. I didn’t like it. Was this what he meant by backing off?
I set the table while Ream and Kat came back inside and talked about the chick Matt was eyeing at Avalanche last night. She was a dancer in one of the plays in town for a few months. A number of the cast members had been there and had sat with the band.
“The band?” I asked.
Kat nodded. “Crisis and Kite showed up late.”
God, right. They told me they were going to Avalanche. I had a vague memory of standing against the wall, Crisis in close and I’d been thinking he was going to kiss me, but Lac showed up. Or maybe he hadn’t been thinking about that at all.
My breath caught in my throat. I told him I liked him calling me “baby.” I asked him if he was going to kiss me.
Ream laughed. “And the chick . . . what was her name, Crisis? The one who did a private dance for you on the table and ended up knocking over all the drinks? And there was a brunette . . . she was quiet, but she had her eyes on you, too.” My gaze darted to Crisis, whose back was turned, and I heard the scrape of spatula on the pan. “You bring her home last night? Lena. That’s her name. She still here?”
Crisis turned around, eyes murderous. “Fuck you, man.”
Ream’s brows rose. “What? Why are you bitching?”
I dropped the cutlery on the table causing a loud clang. I didn’t need time for clarity . . . I wanted him for myself but giving him parts of me I’d shared with no one . . . that was where I faltered. I felt the heat in my cheeks and my stomach heaved as the smell of bacon and eggs hit me all at once. I put my hand over my mouth and ran for my bathroom.
But I had nothing to throw up. Kat found me sitting on the floor cradling my head. She held out her hand. “Come on. I moved everything out onto the patio. We’ll eat out there in the fresh air.” I took her hand and she pulled me to my feet. “You like him.” It was a statement.
I deflated, sighing. “Yeah, but we’re just friends.”
She laughed. “Ream and I tried that, too. Didn’t last. Better not to fight it, makes life a lot easier.”
I shook my head. “Another guy kissed me last night and I didn’t like it. All I thought about was Crisis.” Vincent—he told me last night his real name was Vincent.
“I hope Crisis saw it.” She shrugged when my eyes widened. “Sweetie, he’s been a dog for years. He deserves to have to work for a woman instead of having them fall at his feet with their legs open.” Kat smoothed back my hair.
“I have so much inside me that is bad. I don’t want to put that on anyone.”
“Haven, I know what happened to Ream as a kid and I also witnessed what Alexa did to him. I know what she was capable of, and I’m suspecting Olaf was like that, too. So whatever you’re harboring, it’s horrific.” I’d brought Kat water when she’d been held captive in Alexa’s basement. “When Ream and I were in a bad place, I saw a part of Crisis many don’t get to see. He looked after me, protected me . . . Crisis may have girl issues, but behind all the crap he shoots off, I guarantee he’s something special.” Her voice softened, matching the look in her eyes. “He came to love your brother regardless of his demons. You can trust him with yours.”