“What are you doing here?” Even though she asked, she knew.
He shoved his hands into his pockets, eyes gentle. “I’ve tried to give you space. But I need to talk to you. I need you to hear my side of the story.”
She swallowed hard, but it did nothing to wet her dry throat.
She wanted to hear his side too. But her day had been so long and terrible and her head was pounding.
“Can you give me an hour to shower and change and try to feel human? Then I’ll text you if I’m up to it.”
His brows flickered, as if he didn’t want to let her go without a guarantee she’d go to him. “Okay. Shower. Rest. If you’re not up to it tonight, we can try another night. But if you need me, I’m just down the hall.” Then he kissed her forehead. And she couldn’t stop herself. She leaned into that kiss. Closed her eyes and let his warmth weave itself around her.
God, there was something about this man when he got close to her…he just became the center of everything.
When he lifted his head, it was too soon.
But she forced herself to turn. To unlock her door and step inside before closing it after her. When the lock clicked, she touched her head to the wood.
She missed him. Jesus, she missed him so much.
Slowly, she slipped off her shoes and moved into her bedroom. When she got into the shower, she wanted to just stay there and wash the terrible day away.
Shelley’s treatment of her was almost starting to feel personal. The way she overloaded Bonnie with work that wasn’t hers. Reprimanded her for things that weren’t her fault. Today, she’d scolded Bonnie for not telling her about next week’s activities even though Bonniehadtold her about them in an email. And when Shelley had asked why Bonnie hadn’t responded to her eleven p.m. text last night, and she’d told her itwas because she was sleeping, Shelley had looked at her like that was crazy.
It wasn’t. Shelley’s expectations were. And every day, Bonnie stood up for herself a little more.
Was it because of Dean? Shelley hadn’t grown up here, but maybe she’d heard whispers around town.
Who the heck knew?
When she stepped out of the shower, she wanted to throw on her oversized shirt and slide into bed, but she also wanted to see Zane. Maybe she’d down an aspirin, eat a slice of pizza, and go to his apartment.
After pulling on some yoga pants and a sweatshirt, she moved to the kitchen, where she swallowed the aspirin with some water. As she waited for her pizza, she lifted her phone, hesitating before typing out the text.
She should ask him in person. But she was impatient and texting took less courage.
Bonnie: Why didn’t you tell me?
The second she hit send, she scrunched her eyes. They popped right back open when the text came through.
Zane: Because my past is heavy and complicated, and I didn’t want to pile that on you. You have enough going on. It was a mistake. I should have realized you can handle it.
She was about to respond when a knock came at the door. She frowned. Was that the pizza? She’d expected to collect it downstairs. Had someone let them in?
She crossed to the door and looked through the peephole, but no one was there.
Strange.
She unlocked the door and tugged it open. A pizza sat in the hall.
Another frown. Had she even given her apartment number? She didn’t think so.
Her hands turned clammy, heart racing just a bit faster.
With shaking fingers, she lifted the box and closed the door. She set it on her dining room table.
But the second it was down, she noticed red on her palms.
What the hell?
