It seems like he doesn’t want to talk about his parents, and I can understand that. So I let it go and shake my head no. I notice two steaming cups on the coffee table between the couches and smile at the thoughtfulness.
“I made you some hot chocolate, figured it would help warm you up. Sit with me?” He gestures to the couch, and I already know where this is going to lead.
My feet shuffle hesitantly over the wood floors, moving around him and slowly sitting down, and I’m hoping I didn’t make a mistake in coming here. He hands me a cup filled to the brim with whipped cream on top and sits next to me with his arms on his knees. I can tell he’s trying to figure out the best way to start the conversation we need to have, so I decide to put the poor guy out of his misery.
“I can’t live the life I want if I stay at my father’s place. I need to live, and this is the way to do it…that is, if you were serious before?” I ask warily, chewing on my lip and scared out of my wits of what he’s going to say.
My mom always told me to do what makes me happy no matter what, and I think this might be the first step I can take to chase my happiness.
"Of course I was serious. This is us helping each other out. I don't have time for a real girlfriend with all the drama. Stay here, live the life you want. I'll help you along the way." He has his head turned towards me and is looking at me like something is on his mind. "Can I ask you a question?"
And there it is, what I’ve been dreading. I wonder if he's going to ask about the bruises he saw, or why I was running in the middle of the night in the dead of winter. I don't think I can share that part of myself. I feel embarrassed, shameful, and so freaking alone.
“Uh, sure.” I gulp, fidgeting with my cup handle and taking a sip that burns my tongue, but I keep drinking for a welcome distraction.
“What about your mom?” he asks, but swears under his breath because it must be written all over my face. “You don’t have to answer that, it’s none of my business. I’m sorry,” he whispers in that deep tone that does something to my insides and calms me down.
“It’s fine, you can ask. She’s been gone for years now. She passed away from cancer when I was a young age. So it’s just me…and my father.” I bite my bottom lip when it starts to tremble. That pain still cuts deep.
“I’m sorry, Princess. I can’t even imagine, but it just proves my point when I first met you.” His lips stretch into a wide grin, and he leans forward to run his index finger down my cheek like a lover's caress.
He abruptly withdraws his hand, as if he's just as surprised he was touching me. Suddenly, he stands up and turns towards the hallway, looking over his shoulder at me once with a nod to follow. I drain my hot cocoa and quickly follow him, watching his back muscles ripple under the tight shirt stretched across his broad shoulders.
“What point is that?” My curiosity is piqued as he leads me into a guest bedroom right across from his room.
He flips the light switch on and spins around to look at me, his face expressionless.
“That under the tough shield you have around your heart is a woman beyond any beauty I’ve ever seen,” he says tenderly, staring into my eyes as if he can see everything that I keep buried deep inside. Without another word, he leaves the room before I can reply, but calls over his shoulder without looking back, “We’re meeting Beast and Mary in the morning for breakfast. Night, Princess.” His bedroom shuts quietly behind him, and I have to sit down before I collapse, my knees suddenly feeling weak.
My back hits a mattress that feels like heaven, and all I keep doing is replaying that whole conversation on repeat in my head. My heart is racing like I just ran a mile, and I probably have a ‘what the hell just happened?’ expression on my face.
He’s the most confusing man I’ve ever met.
11
Granger
The coffee maker hisses as I stretch my arms over my head with a tired as hell yawn. I hardly slept last night because of a certain female occupying my thoughts, and I keep wondering how I’m going to approach her situation without her closing up or running off from me. I won’t force her to answer, and maybe she’ll come to me when she’s ready to talk. I have the world on my shoulders, but I would take some of her pain just so I can see her eyes not darkened by shadows.
I’m mentally freaking out about how attracted I am to her. It feels real…like it comes naturally. My head is a hot mess, telling me to turn my back and walk away because I don’t need her. I may not need her but I want her, and my heart is pushing me in her direction, even when she’s not around.
This is complicated shit, and a groan escapes my mouth loudly as I turn to head back to my room to get ready for the day. I halt in my tracks, taking in a ruffled, messy, and beautiful Kat standing a few feet from me. Her pink hair is sticking up in all directions, and there’s an impression of the comforter on her cheek, making it pink. She’s damn quiet as a mouse, because I didn’t hear her come into the kitchen. She looks wide awake though, her eyes slowly moving down my body, and her tongue peeks out the swipe across her rosy lips. My body
