How could hehave been so wrong about Jax? He’d been in such a hurry to get themtogether that he hadn’t considered anything beyond keeping her awayfrom Kell. “Becky, I’m so sorry. He obviously doesn’t deserveyou.”
“Only I started to really like him,” she said, filling up withtears again.
“Sweetheart…”
“Then he just dumped me off at home like I meant nothing anddrove off.” She paused for a hiccup. “Worst part is… I would’ve lethim, eventually. Why couldn’t he have just given me a littletime?”
At a loss forwords, Crispin simply pulled her in for a hug. “I promise, I’llnever do it again. I’ll never come between you and Kell again.Becky, I was being selfish. I was afraid that if you and Kell gottogether that you two would eventually ask me and Dorian toleave.”
He was jealousof her relationship with Kelley. The idea caught her off guard. Shehadn’t really thought about how a relationship with Kelley mightchange things. Besides, nothing had really happened between her andKelley as of yet. She had a crush on him, yes, but he’d been quiteadamant about not reciprocating the feelings until he lost it onJax the other night.
“Kelley doesn’t see me that way,” she said with a pout. “Youdon’t have to worry.”
“Are you kidding me? The guy’s nuts about you. Just toostubborn to admit it. Oops… there I go again, getting involved inyour love life.”
“It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. That’s what got us into this mess in the firstplace.”
“Yeah, maybe you’re right,” she said with a reluctantsmile.
“Oh, Becky, it’s just… I don’t have anywhere else to go. Thisis the only real home I’ve had all my life. The only place where Ifeel like I belong. I wasn’t ready to give that up. Now I’ve hurtyou, and I’m so very sorry because I’ve come to like you so verymuch.”
“Really?” she asked skeptically.
“You’re my little dormouse. I’ve grown quite fond of you, evenif I don’t always show it.”
“And you’re my sweet prickly Goth,” she said with a bubble oflaughter. “I’d never ask you to leave, Crispin,” she said, suddenlyneeding to comfort him. She smoothed her hand down his wavy hair.“We’re not so very different, you and I. I’m alone in the world nowtoo.”
“You’re not alone, Becky. You’ve got us. You’ve gotme.”
“We’re a family, all of us, aren’t we?” she whispered. “You,me, Dorian, and Kelley.”
“Family…” He bowed his head and she heard a small hitch in hisvoice. “Yes… family.”
Poor Crispin,he had lived his whole life bouncing from one foster home toanother. No wonder he was the way he was.
He lifted hishead and gazed at her, blinking the traces of moisture away fromhis eyes. She rested her hands on his shoulders, tucking her coldfingers under the collar of his shirt for warmth.
“You’re cold,” he said, warming his hands up and down hersides. “Let’s go back inside.”
Becky noddedand backed away, allowing him room to stand and stretch. What anenigma he was. Awestruck, she watched him reach his long arms overhis head. So tall and dark in his Victorian ruffled shirt and blacktrousers. He truly was beautiful to behold. Even though her heartbelonged to Kelley, Crispin was not too far behind in heraffections.
Catching hereyeing him, he winked and smiled crookedly at her. “Stop looking atme that way. Trust me, I’m not your type at all.” He playfullytucked her under his arm. “While I may be persuaded to give you ago, you wouldn’t appreciate it, girlie.”
She laughed andelbowed him in the ribs. “Because of the whole vanilla thing?”
“Yes.”
“What does that even mean?”
“Exactly…”
Chapter 19
“No classestoday, Becky?” Dorian asked, watching her walk into the kitchen,still in her nightie, fuzzy slippers on her feet. “Aren’t you goingto be late?” He checked the timer on the stove.
“Actually, no, thank goodness,” Becky said with a sigh ofrelief. “My art history professor gave us the day off to finish upour projects. They’re due next week.”
“Well, that’s a bonus, isn’t it?” He poured her a cup ofcoffee. “Nice to get a long weekend every now and then.”
“Yeah, that’s true. But I’m really glad for it because I’m sofar behind on this project,” she said, slumping into her chair,overwhelmed.
Crispin andKell came along then, all dressed up and ready for the day. Seeingher there, in her pjs, Kell frowned. He immediately stalked up toher and placed his large hand on her forehead. “You’re not gettingsick again, are you, love?” Concern was all over his handsomeface.
“Dear God, say it isn’t so,” Crispin bemoaned, looking over hisshoulder at her.
“No, it’s nothing like that,” she said with a smile, lovingevery minute of Kelley’s undivided attention. “I don’t have classtoday. I’m staying home to work on my project, that’sall.”
“Ah, good,” Kell said, blowing out a breath, relieved to hearit. “Wish I had the day off.” Turning around, he placed two slicesof bread in the toaster.
“I hear you, man,” Dorian said, sitting down at the table,checking the contents of his backpack. “I’ve got class after classtoday, hardly even enough time for lunch.”
“Yeah, well, such is life,” Kell said with a great sigh. “I’vegot all kinds of crap to do today.”
“Busy day ahead for me, too,” Crispin added, snatching a sliceof Kell’s toast, the moment it popped. With a victorious grin, heslathered on a thick coat of blueberry jam. “Classes this morning,then home for a stint before our big gig tonight. What a jokethat’ll be.”
“Get over it, will you?” Kell scoffed, claiming the remainingslab.
“Really? Can I come watch?” Becky asked meekly, taking herchances by interrupting them. Unfortunately, being so enraptured intheir conversation, they didn’t hear her.
“Yeah, man, we’ll be just fine, the three of us,” Dorianadded.
“You think?” Crispin said sarcastically, gulping down hiscoffee. “Easy for you to say. All you have to worry about isplaying your drums. I have to sing and play lead guitar at the sametime. Have I mentioned how much I hate having to doboth?”
“Well, what choice do we have?” Kell asked with a witheringsigh.
“Um…” Becky tugged on Kelley’s sleeve. She couldn’t think ofanything better
