The breath I’d been holding left me on a sigh.
Unlocking our fingers, I closed the door and we headed off into town.
24
We drove in silence.George pulled up the directions on his phone and thankfully didn’t attempt to pull me into conversation as we wove through the streets of a town I’d never been to before. I’m not even sure if we actually needed anything, or if it was a ploy to get some distance from his brother, but I was glad George got us both out. The entire morning had collapsed around us. And a small part of me wished I was back home, back working and not having to deal with all of this shit.
Fallon, able to read my mind in a scary way, had taken me out of that awkward situation with George on top of me, my lust-fuelled brain about to beg him to fuck me on the floor. She’d pulled me into the nearest room, closing the door.
Whatever she read on my face prompted her to cross the room and instead of asking me a million and one questions, she plonked herself on the bed I’d collapsed onto and wrapped her arms around me. She didn’t ask why I was trembling, or why all the colour had drained from my face. She knew it wasn’t over being caught in a compromising position. Any other circumstance that wouldn’t havebothered me in the slightest. But something was happening, and it scared the life out of me. It twisted my insides whenever George was around. It felt brutal, chaotic and… terrifying.
Fallon held me, rubbing soft circles up and down my back, and asked me about work. For the next ten minutes, I told her about the dog that had been brought into the clinic. How much it reminded me of Roxy.
After a while, she asked me if I was okay. When I lied and said yes, she didn’t call me out on it.
What neither of us had been expecting when we descended the staircase was to find George and Oliver nose to nose, faces red as they yelled at each other. I’d never seen them share much more than a sarcastic insult.
She couldn’t commit to someone if her last breath depended on it.Oliver’s words clattered around my head.She’s gonna break your fucking heart.
The way he’d said that, as if it wasn’t even a question, but an inevitability made me feel something I hadn’t felt since I was thirteen years old. Small. Insignificant.
‘We’ll just grab some stuff for dinner.’ George’s voice broke through my thoughts. So lost in my head, I hadn’t even realised he’d parked up outside a small grocery store.
I turned my head to him, nodding as I unbuckled. He didn’t make a move to get out of the car. Watching me, his lips in a flat line. Fighting the urge to say something. He swallowed thickly, lifting a hand and trailed a finger down my cheek. My eyes fluttered closed at the simple contact. One touch and I was crumbling.Pathetic.
My eyes snapped open. I forced a smile and hopped out of his truck without a word.
A flash of pain crossed his face at my sudden retreat. The expression was gone as quickly as it came. As we walked into the store, George reached out to grab my hand. His large palm engulfed mine, wrapping it up, keeping it warm againstthe chilly air. He gave me a look, waiting to see if I’d pull away. I saw the relief soften his features when I kept mine nestled with his.
Since he was the cook, and I could barely make toast without setting off the smoke alarm, I followed George around, watching him pile the basket high with all kinds of different food. When we reached the liquor aisle, he grabbed a bottle of tequila, smirking when he saw the smile on my face. If we were going to get through this weekend, we definitely needed that. He gave my hand a quick squeeze before he let go to put the bags of shopping in the car. I was heading around to the passenger side when he came up behind me, stopping me from opening the door.
‘Not yet. We have another stop to make.’ His warm breath tickled the back of my neck.
‘What? Where?’ We didn’t need any more food, and as badly as I didn’t want to head back into the awkwardness of the cabin, I was kind of looking forward to seeing Oliver well and truly scolded. Fallon’s anger had been rippling off her when George had hauled me away. If George said that kind of shit about Fallon, he would be on his way to the emergency room by now. Even though my dearest friend wasn’t quite as violently inclined as I was; I knew she wasn’t about to let that slide.
George only grunted, tucking me into his side and steering us out of the car park and down a beautiful street. Trees lined the edges of the road. We passed countless stores with cute bunting decorating the windows; chalkboards standing outside with specials or quotes written on them. It’s like we had stepped onto the set of Gilmore Girls. The bite in the air made me shiver. George noticed—because he saw everything—and snaked his hand around my waist, pressing me deeper into his body. I dropped my head to hide how that simple move affected me.
His body heat was enough that a forest would catch on fire. From what I’d seen when he tried on those suits, he was covered head to toe in hair. Like a teddy bear. A large, and occasionally, very dirty teddy bear.
I laughed at the ridiculous image I’d just conjured.
‘What’s funny?’ He looked down, head cocked in confusion.
I shook my head, suppressing another giggle. ‘Nothing. Are you going to tell me where we’re going? Or are we just walking aimlessly? Because if that’s the case, I’m requesting coffee. I’ve only had one this morning, and that is bordering on a hate crime.’
His chest shook with laughter. ‘I’ll get you a coffee after.’
I blew out an exasperated breath. ‘After what?’
He stopped walking suddenly. If I hadn’t been practically attached to his waist, I’d have tumbled forwards. As it was, he gripped me firmly by my hips. Chest to chest, I peered up at him, more than a little confused.
‘Okay, if you’ve lost your mind then you need to tell me now, because—’ he pressed his palms to my head, forcing me to face forward, cutting off my rant. The words died in my throat as I took in the red bricked building he’d brought me to.
Faded white paint was peeling on the window frames. The place looked like it had seen better days—but the lettering etched into the wood above the door was still decipherable.Borrowed Books.
‘It’s supposed to be one of the best second-hand bookstores this side of the country.’ George muttered from behind me. All coherent thought vanished from my skull. He’d brought me to a bookstore. Not only that, he’d spent time and researched one. Knowing how much I’d love it. My feet were glued to the concrete.
‘You want to go in?’ His head dipped down and whisperedin my ear. He took my mess of nods with a soft laugh and pushed me gently towards the door. Staying behind me, keeping my back warm against the cold.
