“The hell I can’t!” he roared. “You are not to be alone with him ever.”
I recoiled at his tone, and we stared at each other for a tense moment.
“It’s not safe,” he said, softer but still heatedly.
“Is this about my safety? Or something else?” I stood and walked across the room, stopping a couple feet in front of him. “I’m so sorry for how I handled things this week. But I’ve made up my mind. Things are completely done with him; he’s not a threat.”
“That’s not my concern,” he said, unmoving. “I don’t want you in a position where you might get hurt.”
“He’s not going to hurt me. All my things are packed, I just have to pick them up.”
“How will you transport them?”
“Gretchen’s roommate has a truck. My stuff won’t fit in either of your cars anyway.”
“I’ll find something.”
“Thank you for the offer, but you can’t come. I’m sorry. It’s not fair to him, and it’s not necessary.”
His eyes narrowed. “You’re with me now, not him. Don’t take his side.”
“I’m not,” I insisted. “But I’m not going to rub his face in it. Honey, it’s just a few boxes.”
“I don’t care. Your safety isn’t a game to me.”
Everything in my body tightened and frustration coursed through me. “Well, it’s happening, so get over it.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said: get over it.”
His face marred with a menacing glare. “Are you trying my patience on purpose?”
“I’ve made up my mind. I’m going tomorrow, and you can’t stop me.”
“Don’t test me.”
“Or what?” I challenged.
“Or you’re going to piss me the fuck off.”
“What do you call this?” I asked, jutting my hand at him. His frame suddenly seemed overwhelmingly big, so I stepped back.
“I call this angry, but I’m about to get pissed.” r />
I bit my lip and took another step back when he took one forward.
“So what’s it gonna be?” he growled.
“You can’t come,” I said. “And now I’m pissed.”
He was almost vibrating and I shrank back, finding he’d somehow backed me into a corner of the room.
“I told you,” he said, each word sharp as it sliced from his mouth, “you’re not to be alone with him.” He took another step forward, and his voice rose. “He touches you, and that’s on me! What are you going to do with Gretchen there if he tries to hurt you? Huh?”
I just stared at him in shock.
His fist hit the wall behind me. “Answer me!”
My eyes were riveted to him, and I shuddered at the intensity of his anger. I tried to comprehend what was happening, tried to formulate an answer. Before I could, he turned and stormed out, slamming the door thunderously behind him. I watched after him for a few moments as I collected myself.
I didn’t want to fight with him. I hated to see him that way, but wasn’t it important to set boundaries? What right did he have to order me around? Bill didn’t deserve to have his broken nose rubbed in my new relationship.
I sighed and climbed back onto the bed, wondering where he’d gone. I hoped fervently that he hadn’t left the apartment. His apartment. His bed. I had nowhere to go when I was upset. He was so incredibly angry, I wondered if he would he even want me sleeping beside him.
I grabbed a pillow and silently opened the door. Light spilled from under the closed door of his office, and I was filled with relief that he hadn’t left. I forwent the guest room in favor of curling up on the couch.
I sank into the pillow promising myself that we’d work it out in the morning. That once he’d cooled off, he would see things from my perspective.
~
I heaved a sigh and opened my bleary eyes. Even through my sleepiness, David’s handsome face took my breath away. Were his eyes so intense that they could penetrate even my sleep?
“Why are you out here?” he whispered as he stared down at me.
“You’re mad at me,” I said in a small voice, coiling tighter around my pillow.
He crouched down and cleared a piece of hair from my face. “I’ll never be so upset that I don’t want you sleeping next to me.” He bundled me in his arms and lifted me to his chest. I closed my eyes and burrowed my nose into his t-shirt, inhaling fresh laundry and David while he carried me. I was almost asleep again when he set me in the middle of the bed and wrapped himself around me.
“I’m still mad,” I murmured.
“Me too.”
CHAPTER 20
I AWOKE STILL IN MY ROBE, unable to remember how I’d gotten from the couch to the bed. The faucet started in the bathroom, and I quickly ran through David’s and my conversation from the night before. My stance hadn’t changed, but since my plans for the night had been thwarted, I decided that I’d be up for angry sex if he was.
I wasn’t looking forward to our impending conversation however, so I avoided the bathroom altogether and gathered my things for the day. I grabbed my laptop from his office and noticed a mess of papers on his drafting table that hadn’t been there the night before. The blueprint on top was labeled Home. I leaned closer, my eyes darting over the drawing of the Oak Park house, trying to envision what he had created. My heart filled with love as I took in all the care and detail he’d put into the plans. I ran my fingers over the copious and hasty notes scribbled in his handwriting.
“That’s just a rough sketch,” he said from behind me. “Obviously I want to get your input before we get to the next phase.”
I turned around. He was already dressed for work in a crisp, royal blue dress shirt and black slacks. “You’re amazing,” I said. “And whatever you do will be perfect.”