“Holy fuck, Becky,” Crispin gasped, clutching her to himself.“You scared the shit out of me.”
“Where are you going?” she asked with an undeniable quiver toher lips, pointing at the large suitcase in the trunk.
Damn, why didshe have to catch him? Wasn’t it hard it enough to leave withouthaving to explain? He simply needed to do this. He needed to stepaway if only for his own sanity.
Forciblydisengaging her arms from his neck, he gave her his mostintimidating frown. He then placed her gently but firmly on theground. That’s when he noticed her state of undress, standing therewith only those incredibly flimsy pjs and nothing on her feet.
If that weren’tbad enough, thunder rumbled from above. Droplets of rain, the sizeof her tears, fell from the night sky.
“Becky, get back inside! You’re not dressed. You have nothingon your feet! Is it a death wish you have?”
“I don’t care! Tell me what this is about!” shedemanded.
Unable to standthe sight of her distress, he turned his back and shut his trunk.The best thing he could do was get out of there. Time was of theessence.
“Crispin, please…” She followed him around to the driver’s sideof his car, tugging on his sleeve.
“For God’s sake, Becky,” he snapped, shaking her off, instantlyregretting it at the sight of her uncertainty. The last thing hewanted was to be unnecessarily cruel. He simply needed to get away.Why did she have to make this harder than it alreadywas?
“Becky, you’ll get sick again,” he stressed, pointing at herbare feet. Incapable of dealing with the sight of her standing onthe cold gravelly ground, he grabbed her up into his armsagain.
“Crispin,” she sobbed, clinging onto him with all her might.“Please, don’t leave!”
With a verydeep breath, Crispin turned and carried her to the back door of thehouse. With every determined step, his mind raced with what hecould possibly say to set her mind at ease. He should have knownbetter than to sneak away. In fact, he realized now just howincredibly cowardly and cruel an act it was. As much as he tried toconvince himself otherwise, he had indeed, become as important toher as she was to him.
He couldn’trisk going inside in case the others were to hear them. It was hardenough to leave without having to deal with all that. Going as faras the back door, he stopped under the awning, away from the rain.With her warm little body still wrapped around his lanky frame, heleaned back against the house and waited.
“Crispin, don’t go, don’t leave,” she pleaded into his collarafter a few calming breaths. “I don’t want you to go. I want youhere, with me, with Kelley, Dorian, and Keegan. I want… I want usto stay together. Forever…”
Doing his bestto comfort her, holding her close and stroking her hair, Crispingave a great sigh. He hadn’t meant to upset her. Yet therealization that she cared so much humbled him and warmed hisheart. In fact, it touched him deeply.
“Firstly, I need you to get a hold of yourself.” Crispin tuggedher hair back gently in order to look her in the eyes. “Secondly, Iwant you to stop with the tears.” He stared her down. “Lastly, andI’m only going to say this once. Put that lip back in its place orI… will… bite… it… off.” He playfully took it between histeeth.
With her sobsnow coupled with laughter, he could only shake his head at her. Nota submissive bone in her body, this little imp. As small as shewas, she was a force to be reckoned with. Good luck, Kell, with allthat.
“Tell me where you’re going,” she demanded, placing her handson either side of his handsome yet troubled face. “Tell me you’renot leaving us. Then perhaps…” She paused for courage. “Perhapsthen, I’ll stop with the tears.”
“I am not leaving you,” he said after a long lingering smile.“I would never do such a thing.”
“Then where are you going?” she asked, feeling only slightlyreassured.
“On a trip.”
“Where? By yourself? Why?”
“Dormouse, sometimes one has to leave to find oneself,” he saidwistfully.
“I don’t understand.”
“Do you trust me?”
“Yes, of course,” she said without hesitation.
“That’s all we both need. Trust. Is it not?” hewhispered.
“Yes… but…”
“Becky?”
“Yes, Crispin?”
“Do you trust me?”
“Yes…”
“Listen carefully to what I say.” He waited until she nodded.“I’m going away but I will be back.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Okay…”
“Okay?” he repeated quietly.
“For how long?”
“For no more than two weeks. I need to get away for a littlewhile.”
“You’ll come back?” She waited until he nodded.“Promise?”
“Promise.”
“Okay.”
He couldn’thelp but smile at the look of uncertainty on her face. How couldanyone dream of walking away from that? This was proving to be nearimpossible. He would only be gone for a couple of weeks and it waskilling him.
“Promise you’ll go back inside? Go back up and get into bedbeside your intended.” He quirked an eyebrow at her. “Kell willnotice you gone soon.” He paused. “I know I would. Besides, I needyou to keep this to yourself until morning. I’m glad you caught meand I’m sorry to have tried to sneak away but I don’t want to haveto deal anyone else right now.”
“Why?”
“Please, just tell everyone I’ll be back when March Break isover.”
“Can’t you at least tell me where you’re going?”
“I’d rather not get into it. Allow me that, Becky.”
“Okay, but you will be back, won’t you?” Sensing his impendingdeparture, the quiver returned to her lip with avengeance.
At the sight ofit, Crispin gave up the good fight and placed the sweetest ofgoodbye kisses on her cheek. After a moment, he pulled away,flashing her a bittersweet smile. “My dearest pet. You make itimpossible to stay away,” he said as he opened the back door andplaced her down on the floor. “Besides, you’re my little dormouse,aren’t you?”
“And you’re my sweet prickly Goth,” she whispered, trying herhardest to keep still as he closed the storm door and walked away.For as long as she could, she stood watching his unforgettablesilhouette disappear into the murky morning. Only after his carpulled out of the driveway, did she close the door.
Chapter 57
Finding Beckysitting on
