I can’t help the small whine that escapes.
The fragments of the chair fall from his hands and I step closer, wrapping my arms around his waist and squeezing tight.
But he doesn’t hug me back.
“I’m sorry, Cal. Told you I wouldn’t hurt you and . . . that’s exactly what I did.” He pats my shoulder and tries to push me away. "Go lay down on the couch. I'll wake you when the stew is ready."
“No.” I bury my face in his chest.
“Cal, please go lay down.”
“You’re . . . I . . . I upset you.”
“No, Cal. I fucked up and I’m angry at myself. Not you.” His fingers brush through the back of my hair. “Please go rest and let me take care of you. The proper way.”
I shake my head, squeezing him tighter.
I’m floating again.
Fuck.
I pull away, scared, but realize I’m not really floating. Mac is carrying me.
He places me on the couch, eyes narrowing. “Rest.”
This time, I comply, sinking deeper into the cushions and stretching out.
He steps away, only to return a moment later and drapes a blanket over me, yet avoids eye contact.
I grab his wrist, and when he meets my gaze I ask the question I’ve been wanting to ask for the longest time. “Why did you stay behind?”
His Adam’s apple bobs, a light pink coloring his cheeks. “Figured I could be of use around here. Keep whoever was left back then safe.”
“Everyone?”
He stands and looks around, rubbing the back of his neck, mumbling to himself. “Fucking swear, Colt and Rex are out there somewhere laughing their asses off.”
There are those names again, and my brow quirks. “Your friends from four years ago?”
He nods.
“Why would they be laughing?”
He groans and scratches the side of his head, the pink on his cheeks now turning a dark red that extends to his ears.
Oh.
I’ve been such a dumbass.
I look around the room at the tossed coffee table, the books scattered on the floor, and the hole in the wall that’s probably from him punching it.
All this time I stayed away for nothing. He’s right. I should’ve come back sooner. Should’ve been open about what I was feeling.
Biting my bottom lip to keep from smiling, I turn back to face him. “Did you stay behind because of me?”
“Fucking hell, Cal.”
“Did you?”
