Okay. She’s not ready to talk about it.
‘I’m not like them.’
Was she having a nightmare about vendors demanding to get paid after Ellen and Qi bailed out on her?
‘Please, don’t hurt me.’
Did someone try to hurt her or was it just a bad dream?
Fuck, I want answers, but pushing the matter when she’s this vulnerable and reluctant to open up, would make me a callous asshole.
The only thing I can do now is hold her, so I do just that.
Several minutes later, she pulls away from me.
“Do you want a glass of water?”
She nods.
I rush to the hallway bathroom, grab a glass from the cabinet, fill it with water, and return to the bedroom.
“Here you go,” I say, handing her the glass.
“Thank you.”
Her dried tears left track marks on her face.
The sight causes me to bunch up my hands into fists.
Her business partners need to be punished for their cruelty.
She places the empty glass on the nightstand table.
“You should try to fall back asleep.”
She nods, but she remains seated in bed.
My eyes swing to the armchair and ottoman located in the corner of the room, near the window, before returning my attention to her.
“I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep.”
“I’m sure you have better things to do then babysit a grown woman.”
I frown. “I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t mean it.”
She responds with a shy smile. “Thank you for doing that. You’re the best roommate a girl could ask for.”
Given her past roommates, that’s a low bar.
“Let me make sure the doors are locked. I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll be here when you get back.” She lets out a little laugh that does nothing to brighten her eyes.
I’m back in the guest room in no time. “Do you want me to leave a light on?”
She shakes her head. “No, that wouldn’t be fair to you.”
“Don’t worry about me.”
