I’m here for you.
In the living room, I made tea, ordered food, and set up the couch with pillows and blankets, being more at ease in this quiet domestic rhythm than I’d ever been. Just taking care of my girl.
I’m not your girl. Yes, you are.
The bathroom door opened, and Hazel walked out, wet hair, all fresh and sweet. I felt the familiar pull when Hazel was in my presence, and it took some willpower not to act on it.
“Thank you. I’m surprised you have something that fits me.” She pulled at the elastic waistband. Her rosy cheeks accompanied her cozy look and sweet smile.
“Yeah, well, high school Luke didn’t believe in leg day,” I smirked.
“His loss, my gain,” she said with a playful smile.
No, Hazel, it was definitely my gain.
She wandered around my apartment, taking in all the smallest details, and stopped at my bookshelf. She lightly grazed her fingers over Byron’s selection, and I made a mental note to remember everything she touched in this place. However, it was hard to concentrate on anything other than her lips. I definitely spent more time on them than was socially acceptable.
“Wow,” she admired, “you really are anall-book-genretype of guy.”
Hazel turned around, and my eyes instantly fell on her curves. Her wet hair clung to her skin, and she was swallowed by my hole-riddled oversized clothes, making her look like a cute little hobo. It was, without question, the sexiest sight I’d ever seen.
“Tea?” I asked.
She nodded, and I averted my gaze not to make her uncomfortable. After all, she was just attacked and was spending the nightnotat her apartment. But she was definitely safer with me than at her place. I hoped she knew that.
We settled into the sofa. A small moan escaped her, her body sinking deeper into the cushions. The need to hold her in my arms intensified, but I held myself in check.
“So... tell me what happened tonight and spare no detail.”
She froze for a second, worry in her eyes and a hint of shame in her voice. “Why?”
“So I know how much damage I should inflict on the man who threatened to hurt you.” My voice got cold and sharp.
“He didn’t hurt me, and there will be no damage inflicted.”
“Hazel,” I said with a warning.
“He... He was heartbroken. And drunk. He couldn’t figure out why I didn’t want to be with him anymore.”
“That’s why I should help you make things clearer for him.” I didn’t hide my frustration.
“This time, I made sure that he knows.” Her voice was small, but quietly proud.
“Tell me.” My voice got softer. She sighed.
“He had tried reaching out to me before, but I avoided him, so he came for answers. Or maybe something more—reconciliation, I guess.”
My chest tightened with a mix of frustration and sympathy. I wanted to tell her that he didn’t deserve a fraction of her light, that he was a piece of shit, but the words felt too heavy for this moment.
“He tried to get into the coffee shop and ended up breaking the window, hence the blood on the floor.”
Good, I thought to myself.
“What about the broken chair in the corner?”
She hesitated, her eyes avoiding mine. “He broke that accidentally, too.”
Liar. I exhaled slowly to keep my temper in check.
