Then there wasthat whole fiasco with Kelley. She had just convinced herself thatnothing was ever going to happen between them. Suddenly, he wasacting all jealous and possessive. This was all too much. Perhapsthe boys were right about not wanting her to live with them. Shewas in way over her head. All this testosterone was definitelymessing her up.
Changing intoher favourite nightie, Becky gathered her strewn clothes off thefloor and made her way into her room to wallow in misery.
Upon enteringher room, she startled and dropped her handful of clothing. Shehadn’t expected to find Kelley sitting there on her mattress, hisblack hair shrouding his troubled gaze, his hands in a prayerposition under his chin, elbows propped up on his folded knees.
Lord, could shebe any sweeter? His eyes slowly took her in, wearing a pink gauzynightie. For a moment, Kell forgot the reason why he’d come intoher room in the first place. Then seeing her so small andvulnerable, his anger at what may have transpired with her and Jaxreturned with a vengeance.
“Kelley…” She started to back away, seeing the anger ignite inhis gaze. What was his problem? He had no reason to be upset withher. If anything she had every right to be mad at him for being inher room without permission. Then again, how many times had shesnuck into his room, and his bed without being invited?
Without words,he stood up to his full height, took one step towards her andeffortlessly pulled her back to sit on the bed beside him.
She started toresist but soon gave in. What was the point in fighting him? Sheweighed no more than a feather to him. Besides, as upset as shewas, Becky realized that Kelley was her best friend, possibly heronly friend in the whole world in that moment.
“Tell me what happened, love,” he said, draping his long armover her shoulder. “Did he… hurt you?” He barely managed to get theword out.
“No, not physically,” she whispered, shutting her eyes, forcingback the unwanted tears that threatened. At her words, she feltKelley relax and let out the breath he’d been holding.
“If not physically, then how exactly?” he persisted, suddenlyso relieved that he believed he could handle anything she saidnext.
“I don’t want to talk about it with you.”
Except that. Hecould not handle being shut out.
“It’s none of your business, anyway.” How could she possiblytell him what had transpired between her and Jax without soundinglike a complete ninny? They already thought she was naive. “I justwant to go to sleep and forget this night everhappened.”
“He hurt your feelings?” Kell guessed, getting angry once againat the thought of anyone hurting this sweet little soul in any wayshape or form.
“Yes… but I’m not talking to you about this. If anything I’mmore mad at you and especially Crispin! This is all his fault, ifnot yours!”
“How is it my fault?” he asked, confused. “Is it because of theway I acted earlier in the garage? I’m sorry if I lost it backthere. I had no right to act that way.”
“That didn’t help things,” she said with a frown.
“The bastard was all over you. I can’t help it if I feelprotective of you. You’re my… housemate,” Kelley admitted,swallowing his pride.
“Is that all I am to you?” she blurted without thinking. “Am Itoo much work for you too?”
“What? No, of course not, love. What’s this allabout?”
“Never mind, get out before I say something I’llregret.”
“Just tell me how any of this is my fault?” he beseechedher.
“Because while Crispin made it happen, you let it happen,” shecried, pushing away from him and crawling in under her sheets. “Nowleave me!”
Chapter 18
Days went bybefore Becky could even look her housemates in the eye, let alonespeak to them. In her mind, she figured they already kneweverything anyway. She did feel a bit sorry for Dorian. He hadn’treally been a part of all this. Yet she couldn’t help but wonderwhat was going through his head.
She felthumiliated and hurt by what had happened. While nobody brought uphis name, she was pretty sure Crispin had talked to Jax. Guys stucktogether in these situations, didn’t they? They’d probably even hada good laugh at her expense.
After a fewdays of keeping to herself, Becky couldn’t stand it anymore.Refusing to let the unfortunate event get in the way of her life,Becky made a point to join them in the kitchen Saturday morning.She was done hiding up in her room. Besides, the smell of freshlybrewed coffee and pastries made it impossible to resist.
When shearrived in the kitchen, still in her pyjamas as was her habit, shesuddenly paused at the entrance, studying them through her lashes.Seeing them there, all dressed up for the day, sitting around thetable, flipping through flyers, she couldn’t help but feeluncharacteristically self-conscious about her state of undress.Funny how before this whole thing with Jax, she’d thought nothingof walking around in her jammies.
“Coffee, Becky?” Dorian stood up with a welcoming smile, gladto have her join them. He had missed her. They all had. They mightnot admit it out loud, but Becky had come to mean a lot to each ofthem. In her girlie little way, she had made the house feel morelike a home. She certainly improved the view as far as he wasconcerned.
“Yes, please,” she said in that all too familiar husky voicethat just about melted the insides out of Kell. God, he’d missedthe sound of his name on her voice. She hadn’t spoken to him oreven looked at him in days.
“Sit here, love,” Kell said, eagerly pulling out a chair forher. When she reluctantly came forward and sat down, he had tofight the urge to drag her chair closer to him so that he mighttake
