“Room service,” the guy announces.
Christian grunts, taking the tray from him and slamming the door closed in his face.
“Christian!”I snap.
He rips the door open again, hands the guy a tip, then slams it shut.
I sit on the bed and sigh.“I guess we’re doing this.”
He glowers down at me.“Oh, we’re doing this.Now, talk.Why did you run from me again?”
I open my mouth to answer, but Christian is on a roll.
“We talked.Things were better!At least, Ithoughtthings were better,” he says more to himself than to me.
“I just?—”
“You know you’re supposed to be at the clinic, where it’s safe, and I can keep an eye on you.What if something had happened?What if I didn’t get there in time?”he demands, and I can see his panic at the thought.
How long would it take my parents to realize if something happened to me?
The thought comes out of nowhere.I swallow hard as I think about the answer.I’m not sure.It’s always me reaching out to them.I’m not sure that they would realize until someone called them about me.
Would they be upset if I were injured or died?
Tears sting my eyes.They’re my parents.I shouldn’t have to wonder.How can I doubt them but know without a doubt that the man I met days ago would be devastated if I so much as stubbed my toe?
“Whoa, Christian says when he notices the tears in my eyes.
That does it.
I bury my face in my hands and full-on sob.
“I’m sorry, baby.So sorry.I shouldn’t have raised my voice.Of course, something must have happened if you felt you had to leave.I’m sorry.I should’ve asked.Should’ve been there to fix it,” he rambles.
His words only make me cry harder.No one has ever treated me like this.Like I matter.I was already regretting my decision to leave Christian.It felt like a mistake.But now I’m sure that leaving him would be the biggest mistake of my life.
Still, I had my reasons for leaving.
I swipe at my eyes, and Christian rips off his shirt, wiping my face for me.
Jeez, the guy would do anything for me.
This type of relationship, this type of love, is so foreign to me.I’m not used to it, but God, I want to be.
“What happened, Quinn?”Christian asks me gently.“Why did you run, mate?”
“I… My parents have a company back in New York.”
He frowns.“And they need you to go back there?We can go.You should’ve told me.”
I shake my head.“No, they don’t need me.They never have,” I say bitterly.“I’ve spent my life trying to be perfect for them, and it’s gotten me nothing.They don’t notice me.They don’t care about my life.They don’t care about me.I don’t even think they love me.The company is their baby, not me.”
“Quinn, I’m so sorry.”
“I don’t want that to be my life anymore.I don’t want to be surrounded by people who don’t want me.”
“Okay,” he says, looking confused.“You have to know that I want you.”
