I smiled. “I can run.” My eyes trailed over his damp skin and the low-slung towel sitting on his hips. I knew he worked out a lot and I was betting he was going to push me.
“Two minutes.” Crisis disappeared.
I sat on the end of the bed to wait for him, knowing it wouldn’t be two minutes, more like ten. My finger sliding back and forth over the brand. It was the first time I touched it and it didn’t hurt so badly.
3 weeks later
EVERY MORNING I ran with Crisis and Roman, the latter had become my personal bodyguard when I left the condo. Three weeks ago, after my breakdown, I’d asked Crisis while we were running why the extra security. He told me it was precautionary.
“Against what?” We were running hard and I slowed the pace.
“Baby, can I not tell you and pretend I did?”
I stopped, glancing behind me at Roman who also stopped and was watching the people around us. “It’s that girl, isn’t it?”
“She’s texting me. Like I said—precautionary. I don’t want you to worry.”
“Anything else I should know?”
He nodded. “She’s called my parents’ house. Don’t know for sure, but Luke is going back through all the records and seeing if any calls came from Alberta.” I waited because I knew there was more with the way he shifted his weight and frowned. Nothing casual about him at that moment. “Maybe the farm would be better for you to stay at for a while. Lay low until we figure this out.”
I put my hands on my hips, my chest still heaving from our run. “Are you suggesting? Or has this been decided?”
He moved in and I liked when he did that. But I was pissed because I had exams and I’d worked hard. I wasn’t screwing up the parts of my life I rebuilt because of some chick who was obsessed with him.
“Luke suggested it. Just easier for them to watch us there. I also think we should tell Luke about your past. He’s protecting you, too, and it’s important he’s informed.”
I nodded. He was right. Luke had to know. Crisis placed his hands on my hips; I really liked that, too. Tingles sparked through me and despite all the shit that surfaced, it was stronger than ever. The compartments were opened and there was nothing left to hide.
I wanted him to kiss me, but my confidence around kissing and sex was fucked up, so I didn’t make a move. He didn’t either except for his light touches and holding me in bed.
Yeah, I had that, too. Every night since I’d freaked out, he slipped into my bed at night and wrapped his arms around me. I’d feel his light kiss on my head then he’d whisper, “Night, baby.”
It was sweet and comforting and I’d never slept better than when I was enfolded within his embrace, listening to his steady heartbeat.
“I have school. Exams are soon, then Christmas break.”
“Then you’ll go after exams?”
“What about you?” If I wasn’t out of breath, I’d be holding it as I waited for his answer, because I couldn’t imagine waking up without his arms around me.
He grinned and my chest warmed. “You want me, cupcake?”
I raised my brows at the endearment. “Cupcake?”
“Answer the question.”
“Yeah, I do. I want to wake up with you.”
“Good, because I was coming with you anyway.”
After that, things were sweet. He stayed in most evenings with me and we watched movies and had dinner together, often with Kite. There was an ease between us. It had always been there, just polluted by my demons.
Ream and Kat stayed at her brother Matt’s place downtown for a few days after my breakdown so Ream could be close by. He came by every day and we talked about school and his music. I also told him I wanted to help kids like us. Kids who had no parents, who were like Ream and me. I knew I had a long way to go with repairing myself first, but I was determined to get there.
I knew I’d be good at it. I knew how to read people and I excelled at hiding and not talking. And I also knew how damaging it was to not talk.
That was when I told Ream about the club and Charlie. We were alone at the condo and sitting out on the patio, the wind cool against my skin, but not scary.
He took it pretty well for Ream and remained semi-calm. I sensed a part of my brother had changed over the last few days. Maybe what I’d been doing by hiding what happened had been hurting him, instead of protecting him.
In a way, what happened freed me. I always felt trapped in my need to be strong by burying everything that happened. I finally agreed to see a therapist, but talking about it with Ream and Crisis had helped.
Now, I had one more day of classes then a week of exams before I was off until the New Year. Roman stayed in the guest room since he was here all the time and he was already up with coffee made when I went downstairs.
Crisis was still in my bed and normally he woke when I slipped out of his arms, but he’d been up really late, not crawling into bed with me until almost four in the morning. I knew because I woke when he came in behind me and glanced at the clock. Then he linked our hands and rested them on my abdomen. I fell back asleep.
It was just after nine and I was in my sociology class listening to the drone of Professor Eric’s lecture when my phone vibrated.
WTF. You left without waking me.
I never wake you. You wake up when I do and this morning you didn’t. You were up late.
Roman with you?
Do you need to ask?
I waited but my phone didn’t vibrate for a minute then,
I’m coming.
?
Where are you?
School.
Funny, babe. Which class?
Oh no, you don’t.
You know I have access to your schedule. I’ll text Roman and tell him I’m coming.