“Nope. Rode with Seth from class.” She leaned into me and her perfume sent waves of desire through me. It didn’t block out the smell of alcohol, though. She was sloshed.
“Good, I can take you back without worrying about the car.” I opened the door for her and helped her inside. She was so petite yet hell on wheels. If she didn’t piss me off so much, I’d even say cute. But right now, I focused on getting home without her getting sick. “I’ll open the windows. Tell me if you need to stop, okay?”
“Why are you being so nice to me?” Her words were small. It was the first time venom hadn’t laced each syllable. They were soft and my heart broke.
“Because you’re having a shit day. I get those, too. I told you—I wanted to help. Here I am.” I patted her knee and asked where she lived. She didn’t respond and I prompted her again.
“Uh, well. On Oakland. Number 8380. But…never mind.”
“What is it, Barbie?”
“My roommate’s working tonight and I don’t want to be alone.” Her words stuttered at the end and I reached out to hold her hand. Something pained my chest again and I embraced her.
“Want me to stay over? I can sleep on the couch.”
“My place is so small. We’re different worlds. You’re you…and I’m me.”
I had no fucking idea what she was implying. “Come again?”
“You have a palace.” She hiccupped. “I have a shack. I don’t want you to make fun of me.”
“Why the hell would I?” Her question baffled me. She didn’t answer and I made my way to her place. I’d have been lying if I said her words didn’t hurt. I wouldn’t judge a person’s wealth by items. Shit—she worked hard as hell. “Fiona. Can I stay at your place?”
“Sure. I don’t know why you’d want to. I’m not good. I’m not a good person to be around.” She hiccupped again. “I’m a black widow.”
“The hot superhero lady?”
“No. Gid,” she scoffed like I was dumb. “I was mean to you.”
“You’re always mean to me.” I added a wink but she didn’t react. She simply stared at me with big baby-blue eyes. “It’s part of the fun.”
“I’ll never have what Iusedtohave. It’s why I drank so much with Seth.” She leaned against the door and I couldn’t follow her thoughts to save my life. “You make my life a little less lonely. You know?”
“I do.”
“It doesn’t matter, though. They all leave. They always do. I deserve it.” Then she passed out.
‘You make my life a little less lonely.’God—they weren’t a declaration of love, but her words resonated with me.Shit.I glanced at her and approached her place. She made my life a hell of a lot less lonely. She took up most of my thoughts. ‘They all leave.’
Who’s they?
“Fiona, we’re here.” I ran my fingers down her face, but she didn’t budge. I chuckled. She had a little drool forming. My leg strained a bit from the night before, but I hoisted her up and carried her to the door. I had no idea where the key was. I searched her pockets, but nada. I set her down and she finally came to. “I need the key, sweetheart.”
“Gideon.” She wrapped her arms around me and something fluttered in my chest. She felt like home. She said my name like a poem and I wanted to keep it. I ran my hands up and down her back and held her against me. “Am I dreaming?”
“Nope. But I’m glad to know I star in your dreams.” I pulled back and gazed at her. This was a new version. Vulnerable. Sweet. I couldn’t help myself. I pressed a kiss against her lips. They were warm and inviting, but I stopped it. “Do you have your keys, hon?”
“Y-yeah.” She fumbled in her purse and pulled out a ridiculous keychain. I recognized the TTL logo immediately. I helped her with the door and took in her home. It fit her. Chic, organized and welcoming. Okay, she wasn’t welcoming, but her home was.
“Nice place.” I looked at the photos and stopped at a picture of her and Justin. She had to be fourteen…such a baby. “What do you remember most about him?”
She sniffed and I found her with tears down her face. “His promises he never kept.”
“Ah, Fiona.” I gulped and felt sucker-punched. “Try and focus—”
“We fought the day he died. I was jealous about some girl he worked with. He told me I was crazy. I told him to leave. He fucking lied about working late with her. I screamed at him, Gid. Screamed. I threw him out in tears and he texted me to apologize and I refused. I did this. I caused him to die.” She sobbed and wrapped her arms around herself. “I shouldn’t have kicked him out mad. I shouldn’t have texted him. It’s my fault. All mine.Jesus.”
Words left me. I hurt for her. I would do anything to take it away. I wrapped my arms around her and comforted her the best I could. She shook against me and I cradled her head. “Shh. You’re okay.”
