The way she’d said “right” was like how most women said “fine”. Something was wrong and he didn’t think it was because he was acting like a protective caveman. If anything, Charleigh had softened when he’d mentioned not letting Faith back into the apartment.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
Translation: Everything, you big dummy.
Holden knew her “nothings” like he knew she was best left undisturbed until she consumed enough caffeine to jack up an elephant.
“Baby, you do know that in all the years we’ve been apart I haven’t forgotten one thing about you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she snapped again.
“It means that back then, when you told me nothing it meant something. So something is wrong. If memory serves and I know it does because again, I remember every single thing about you, it would take me a minimum of fifteen minutes to pull it out of you. So, baby, save us some time and tell me what’s pissing you off.”
“Nothing’s pissing me off.”
Holden sighed and sat back, but didn’t bother turning off the engine. It was cold outside and without the heater running they’d be freezing their asses off within five minutes.
“Why are we just sitting here?” she asked after a few moments.
“Because likely whatever has pissed you off will require privacy while I sort you out.”
“Sort me out?” Her eyes narrowed dangerously on Holden. “What’s that mean?”
“Leigh-Leigh.”
“My name is not an answer.”
Well, at least she wasn’t bitching anymore about him using his nickname for her.
“Tell me what’s wrong and I’ll explain what sorting you out means.”
The woman was lucky she was cute as hell when she was being stubborn. If not, it would likely annoy the ever-loving shit out of him. And he knew unequivocally she wasn’t going to budge when she crossed her arms over her chest and settled back.
So…guessing it is.
“Are you pissed I don’t want you going to your apartment?”
“No.”
Holden wanted to laugh; by answering his question she’d essentially admitted she was pissed about something.
“You mad I don’t want Faith there?”
“No.”
“Then you’re mad we’re staying at Evie’s.”
Her pause told him that was closer to the mark.
“I’m not mad, I’m just…confused as to why she’s letting us. She’s hated me since she picked her head up off Chasin’s shoulder in the hospital when your doctor came in to tell us you made it through surgery.”
Shit.
He’d fanned that hatred. Now he needed to fix it. But first, he needed to be honest with Charleigh.
“I haven’t been right for a long time. Even before I was shot and you came to Kent County, I was pulling into myself. Everyone saw it but no one was talking to me about it. After my trip to Virginia when you went to court and the Towlers were giving you problems, I retreated completely. My head was so fucked-up I didn’t want to be around my friends. They’d all hooked up with great women, they were starting families, and I was wallowing in self-pity.”
Holden fixed Charleigh in his gaze so she’d understand. “Evie and I are close. She doesn’t trust many people because she’s been burned so many times, but when you’re in, you have her absolute love and loyalty. That’s Evie. That’s my friend. And, I may have abused that friendship, now that I’m looking back.”
This was the hard part—the way Charleigh looked at him after that statement told Holden to run. But, if he did that, if he stopped talking right now, he’d not only lose his Leigh-Leigh, he’d be betraying one of his best, most loyal friends. “After I heard you’d come to the hospital to visit me, or more to the point, after I heard you’d brought Faith with you, I had what amounts to a hissy fit. I lost it and Evie was there to listen as I broke down. As I said, she’s loyal. Without meaning to, the things I said turned her against you without her getting to know you.”
He leaned toward her. “That’s gonna change, baby. First, I’m gonna talk to her, but more importantly, she’s gonna see me happy and she’ll change her mind. But just to say, Evie going all-out making sure you and Faith were set up with a safe place to live was her attempt at reaching out. She was there when I was shot. The first few times she went back to that house, she freaked the hell out, totally inconsolable. She didn’t want that for you or Faith. But I see how staying at what amounts to her family home is an issue. So this afternoon before we pick up Faith, we’ll move into a hotel. There’s one in town with an indoor pool. We’ll tell Faith we moved there so she can swim.” Holden paused and thought of something. “She can swim, right?”
“She can,” Charleigh croaked.
“Good. Then that’s what we’ll tell her.”
Charleigh shook her head and quietly said, “We don’t have to leave.”
“We do, baby. I’m not having you stay somewhere you’re not comfortable.”
“It’s not that. I guess I’m still upset that when you were shot, I was in the waiting room worried out of my mind you were going to die, and she was sitting by your bed and I wasn’t allowed. Even when you were moved out of ICU, Genevieve made it clear you were to have no visitors.”
Holden cringed. He’d done that, too.
“That was me. I asked her not to let anyone in. I’m sorry, Leigh-Leigh. I’m being as honest as I can be. I tried everything I could to stop myself from loving you. I tried to hate you because it hurt so fucking bad to get through each day knowing I’d never be where I am right now. Baby, you’re hard to get over. Every day was a struggle. Like I said, I’ll talk to her. We’ll go to the hotel.”
“Seriously, Holden, it’s fine.” She let out a deep breath before she gave him a wan smile. “You know me, always reacting before I think things through. Regardless
