This is Reckless (Checkmate Duet 3)

He shrugs and looks back to the TV. After a silent minute, I set the plate down on the coffee table and walk out. Needing to talk to someone, I text Viola.

C: He won’t talk to me, Lola. He’s in bad shape. I don’t know what to do.

V: Just be there for him. He’s probably still in shock and it’s haunting him. I wish I had an exact answer for you, but Drew is tough. He’ll process and get through this.

C: I hope you’re right. I hate seeing him like this. He looks soulless.

V: Maybe you two need to get away for a few days. Get on a plane and fly somewhere.

C: That’d be nice. Maybe a change of scenery will help. I want to give him his space and time he needs to cope but I also don’t want him to sit around overthinking it for the next week.

V: You could go to Vegas and get hitched ;) Then get to making me some nieces and nephews!

C: OMG! You’re relentless!

V: Haha! Seriously. Go. Take his mind off what happened and maybe he’ll come around and be ready to talk.

C: It’s worth a shot. I just need to find the right time to mention it.

V: I’m sure taking your clothes off would help distract him.

C: Get real, Lola. I’m not going to seduce him when he’s feeling like this. Although from the stories you’ve told me about rage sex, perhaps it’s worth the risk.

V: SO WORTH IT :)

I set my phone down on the kitchen counter and dig around the fridge although I’m not feeling hungry myself anymore. I grab a bottle of Snapple before closing the fridge door, and as soon I try twisting off the cap, it slips from my fingers and falls to the ground.

“Shit,” I mutter, as the glass breaks and spills everywhere. I bend down to start cleaning it up when I cut my finger on a piece of glass. “Ouch! Fuck.” I suck the blood off my fingertip and as soon as I stand up, Drew catches me from behind.

“Are you okay?” His hands are on my shoulders, and it’s the first time he’s touched me in two days. It feels nice having him close to me again.

“I cut my finger. I just need a Band-Aid.”

“I’ll grab one for you,” he says, walking away. I thank him and smile.

Once he cleans up my finger and wraps the Band-Aid around, he grabs a towel and starts cleaning up. “Do you want me to help?”

“No, I’ve got it.”

I stand and watch as he carefully grabs the pieces of glass and tosses them out. Once he finishes wiping the floor, he stands in front of me and takes my hand. He brings it to his mouth, and I watch as he kisses my finger gently. My heart flutters as I feel his lips press against my skin. Even after all this time, he still affects me in ways I don’t think I’ll ever be able to ignore.

“Thanks for taking care of me,” I say.

“I’ll always take care of you, sweetheart. Even if it’s just a little cut.” His smile makes my eyes swell. He’s been so isolated the past two days; it feels like this is the first time I’ve really heard him speak.

I wrap a hand around his neck and pull him down to my lips. He wraps his arms around me and holds me tight. “I’m so sorry I’ve been distant.”

I lean back and look in his eyes. “Don’t be sorry. You have nothing to be sorry for. I’ve just been worried about you.”

“I know.” He kisses the top of my forehead. “I don’t want you to worry. I’ll be okay.”

I wish I believed him, but I believe he’ll try to be. Drew’s strong and he has a big heart. I wasn’t even there, and the whole thing shook me to my core.

“Wanna get away?” I ask abruptly.

He blinks.

“Let’s get out of here. You can’t just sit here for the next week.” I hope I’m not sounding crazy, but I don’t want to lose him either.

“Okay,” he says, taking me by surprise. “Let’s do it. Where do you want to go?”

I smile and bite my lower lip. He stares at me, waiting.

“Vegas?”

“You trying to get me drunk and take advantage of me?” He flashes a sly smirk, and it makes me giddy to see him joking around.

“Um, always!” I laugh. “Viola practically had to stop me from climbing you like a tree for three years, so I will always take advantage.”

“Good to know. I’ll be sure to wear my lucky underwear.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

DREW

No one can properly prepare you for what it’s like to watch another human being take their own life. Especially when you thought it’d be your life they were going to take away. It’s all I’ve thought about, and yet, I feel numb inside.